Melanoma's toll is on the rise
CMAJ 1998;159:200
© 1998 Canadian Medical Association
Data published in Canadian Cancer Statistics 1998 indicate that the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates for melanoma have increased steadily in the last few decades. Physicians should keep that in mind this month and next because their patients get more exposure to sunlight in July and August than at any other time of the year.
For Canadian males, the incidence rate for melanoma has tripled since the late 1960s, from 3.2 per 100 000 population in 1969 to an estimated rate of 10.5 per 100 000 in 1998. The age-standardized incidence rate of melanoma among females has varied somewhat over the years but still shows a gradual increase. Between 1969 and 1985 female rates exceeded those for males, but since then the opposite has been true. The estimated female rate for 1998 is 8.6 per 100 000.
For all years studied in the report (1969–1998), the mortality rate due to melanoma for men has exceeded that of women, rising from 1.4 per 100 000 in 1969 to an estimated 2.9 per 100 000 in 1998. Female mortality rates fluctuated between 1.1 and 1.3 per 100 000 until 1981, then remained closer to 1.5 per 100 000. The rate is estimated to be 1.6 per 100 000 in 1998, or 55% of the male mortality rate.
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This column was written by Lynda Buske, chief, physician resources information planning, CMA. Readers may send potential research topics to Patrick Sullivan (sullip@cma.ca; 613 731-8610 or 800 663-7336 x2126; fax 613 523-0937).
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