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Skin cancer death rates much higher in men than women

22 August 2013 00:39 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Death rates from the most serious type of skin cancer are 70 percent higher in men than women, the latest figures from Cancer Research UK showed on Wednesday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

According to the figures, each year in the country, 3.4 men per 100,000 compared with 2.0 women die from malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. But incidence rates are similar with 17.2 men per 100,000 diagnosed compared with 17.3 women.

The gap is predicted to widen in the future, with death rates from malignant melanoma on the increase in men but remaining stable for women.

Since the early 70s, death rates in men have increased by 185 per cent compared to a rise of only 55 percent in women. The key risk factors for melanoma include excessive exposure to UV from sunlight or sunbeds, a high number of moles, and a family or personal history of the disease.

"One of the reasons for the difference may be attitudes towards seeing a doctor. We tend to be reluctant to 'waste the doctor's time - men are especially likely to put it off," said Sara Hiom, director of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK.

"It's also essential to take care not to burn, particularly given the sunny weather we've had this summer," Hiom said.