
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.
To help everyone enjoy the sun safely, NIVEA SUN and Cancer Research UK – who this year celebrate 10 years in partnership – have created easy-to-remember advice:
- Seek shade: especially between the hours of 11am-3pm in the UK, when the sun is strongest
- Cover up with clothing: wear a shirt, hat and sunglasses
- Apply sunscreen: regularly and generously, applying one with at least SPF 15 and 4 or more stars
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.
Comments
Terry Titmus August 21, 2022
SPF 15 does not reconcile with my understanding that a much higher rated sunscreen should be used.
Jacob Smith August 25, 2022
Hi Terry,
Thank you for your comment.
We say to use sunscreens with at least SPF15 because sunscreens with SPFs higher than 15 do not provide significantly more protection. This is because the amount of UV rays that sunscreen can absorb tails off above SPF 15, so going higher than SPF15 might not offer the protection boost you’d expect. If used in combination with spending time in the shade and covering up with clothing, sunscreen with SPF 15 and 4 or 5 stars is enough to protect you from the sun.
I hope that helps,
Jacob, Cancer Research UK
Annette Daley August 20, 2022
Excellent advice.
Stuart Johnston August 19, 2022
Yet more great advice from Cancer Research UK. Please keep the advice coming.
Keith Paterson August 18, 2022
Necessary to stress the importance, especially in view of the rise in skin cancer in men
Roy Hesketh August 17, 2022
I used to live in Australia for several years, then Saudi Arabia for four.
I got skin cancer on my head. I found it a few years ago and it was caught in time and was cut out. I’ve had a scare since, but it proved not to be cancer. In Ozz there was and probably still is. ‘Slip, Slap Slop’. Slip on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on the sun cream. Every time I go out now even in the UK, I always slap on a hat. It was a base ball cap, but recently on hot days I’ve started to wear a proper brimmed hat, to protect the tips of my ears. A lot of people forget their ears.
Angela Reid August 17, 2022
Excellent information. My father died of skin cancer ( back) and not once in my life did I see him take off his shirt as he was fair skinned and knew the risks. Can childhood burns lead to adult skin cancer? I do not see enough information or
samples of sunblocker at large sporting events where observers (particularly men) are standing in the sun for hours unprotected and sometimes shirtless.
Lilly Matson August 22, 2022
Dear Angela,
We’re very sorry to hear about the death of your father.
Sunburn at any stage of life, including in childhood, can increase the risk of melanoma. There’s no good evidence that getting sunburnt as a child increases the risk of melanoma more than getting sunburnt at other ages. But someone’s risk increases with the number of sunburns in their life. So, every opportunity to be sun safe is an opportunity to reduce your risk of skin cancer.
Best wishes,
Lilly, Cancer Research UK
Eric Ogilvie August 23, 2022
Informative as usual!