Melanoma cases rising in California and San Diego
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Doctors are diagnosing people in San Diego with melanoma at higher rates than the national average, as California sees a rise in cases.
Why it matters: Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers; however, it's responsible for most 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 over 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 San Diego County, the annual rate of new melanoma cases is 29.5 per 100,000 people.
- The average rates are 22.4 in California and 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, dermatologist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit and former president of American Academy of Dermatology.
- And sun exposure has a clear a 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: Better skin cancer detection and the fact that many Americans are living longer, according to Sivendran.
Worthy of your time: Using and reapplying a "safe" sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer and sun damage.