Mapped: Melanoma cases rising in Georgia
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Georgia's doctors are diagnosing people with melanoma at higher rates than the national average, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Why it matters: Although melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers, it's responsible for the large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
By the numbers: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S.
- New cases of melanoma rose 2–3% annually from 2015 to 2019, Axios' Tina Reed reports.
- In particular, numbers have risen for people older than 50 diagnosed with skin cancer, says Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, ACS senior vice president of cancer care support.
- ACS estimates that about 100,640 new cases of melanoma skin cancer will be diagnosed in 2024.
Zoom in: In Georgia, the annual rate of new melanoma cases is 25.1 per 100,000 people. The average rate is 22.5 nationally.
What they're saying: "People who get periodically sunburnt frequently tend to have a higher risk of developing melanoma," says Henry Lim, a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit and former president of the American Academy of Dermatology.
- And sun exposure has a clear connection to basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers.
Yes, but: "More sun exposure" isn't the only possible reason for the uptick in melanoma diagnoses.
- Other factors: More effective skin cancer detection and because many Americans are living longer, according to Sivendran.
Using sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, and also wrinkles and skin discoloration.
- More tips for avoiding sun damage: stay in the shade, wear hats and other protective clothing while in the sun, and use sunscreen, and reapply it.
Go deeper: How to pick a "safe" sunscreen.