Skin cancer death rates in men risen dramatically in the last 50 years

Skin cancer death rates in UK men have more than tripled since the early 1970s, according to new analysis released today by Cancer Research UK.  

This latest news comes as more of us are expected to head outside this weekend due to soaring temperatures, with an extreme weather warning extended into next week. 

Researchers found that since 1973, death rates from melanoma – the most serious type of skin cancer – have risen by 219% in men, compared to an increase of 76% in women.  

These figures equate to around 1,400 UK men dying of melanoma skin cancer every year, compared to around 980 women – a total of 6 people a day. Taking into account age differences, this means men are 69% more likely to die from skin cancer than women.  

And while death rates from melanoma have decreased by 9% for women in the last decade, things haven’t yet improved for men. 

These figures showing that six people die of melanoma every day in the UK really drive home the importance of sun safety. We all need to take steps to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple your risk of skin cancer.

– Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research 

What’s behind the increase in skin cancer rates?

The link between sun exposure and skin cancer is well proven. The amount of UV exposure over your lifetime is one factor which contributes to your risk of skin cancer. 

And in the UK almost 9 in 10 cases of melanoma skin cancer could be prevented by staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbed use.  

There could be a number of factors at play behind the large increase in rates of skin cancer amongst men since the 1970s.  

Package holidays have risen dramatically, and the more recent surge in cheap flights to sunny destinations has meant more people are going abroad, sometimes several times a year, where the sun can be stronger – leading to increased levels of sun exposure. 

Skin cancers are also more often found on men’s torsos than on other body parts – likely due to going shirtless. This could make it harder to spot changes to the skin, and potentially contribute to the higher proportion of later-stage diagnosis seen in men. 

The damage to skin cells caused by sunburn builds up over time, so even if you’ve been sunburnt before, protecting against future sunburn makes a difference to your cancer risk.  

It’s important to remember that the sun can cause this damage to skin cells even in cloudy weather and that anyone can get a sunburn or develop skin cancer. Although people with naturally dark or brown skin burn less easily and have a lower risk of skin cancer, it’s low risk, not no risk and they should still be thinking about sun safety when the sun is strong. 

Survey results highlight attitudes to sun safety

A recent research survey from NIVEA SUN, as part of its partnership with Cancer Research UK, spoke to 2000 UK men in April this year about sun safety. The survey found that sun protection isn’t at the front of mind for men.  

It revealed that although 84% of UK men know sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer, less than a quarter said they always protect themselves from the sun. 

When analysing the reasons for having not protected themselves in the sun, a quarter of men (25%) said they did not feel the sun was strong enough, with nearly the same number (23%) saying they didn’t really think about it. 

With people set to spend more time outdoors this weekend, as the extreme temperatures continue to rise, Cancer Research UK is releasing these figures to encourage people to protect their skin from the sun – especially if they burn easily. 

“This weekend remember to spend some time in the shade, cover up with clothing and regularly apply sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and 4 or 5 stars. And if you notice any unusual changes to a patch of skin or nail, don’t put off telling your doctor. In most cases it’s not cancer, but if it is, an early diagnosis can make all the difference,” says Mitchell.