Cancer of the skin is one of the most common of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for only about 2% of skin cancers but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.
How common is melanoma?
The European Commission estimates for melanoma in the Europe for 2020 were:
More then 100000 new melanomas were diagnosed (about 55397 in men and 450972 in women).
More then 16000 people were expected to die of melanoma (about 9457 men and 7031 women).
The rates of melanoma have been rising rapidly over the past few decades, but this has varied by age.
Risk of getting melanoma Melanoma is more than 20 times more common in people with light skin pigmentation. The risk for each person can be affected by a number of different factor:
- Ultraviolet light exposure
- Having many moles
- Atypical moles
- Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome
- Congenital melanocytic nevi
- Fair skin, freckling, and light hair
- Family history for Melanoma
- Personal history of melanoma or other skin cancer
- Having a weakened immune system
- Being older
- Genetic syndromes such as xeroderma pigmentosum
Melanoma is more common in men overall, but before age 50 the rates are higher in women than in men. The risk of melanoma increases as people age. The average age of people when it is diagnosed is 65. But melanoma is not uncommon even among those younger than 30. In fact, it’s one of the most common cancers in young adults.
A dermatological consultation help to early diagnose and to early remove Melanoma and other skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, malignant adnexal tumors of the skin.
Dott. Giovanni Biondo
Specialista in Dermatologia e Venereologia
Master di II livello in Chirurgia Plastica
Milano, Via Meravigli 16
Telefono: +39 02 3668 5103
WhatsApp: +39 329 7347765
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