The incidence of cutaneous melanoma in Spain is increasing. Between 2002 and 2022, the annual age-adjusted incidence rate per 100,000 population increased for both males and females. Specifically, it increased from 10.5 to 16.3 cases in women and from 10.8 to 14.6 in men, representing an annual increase of 2.5% and 1.6% respectively, as This is evidenced by the infographic on “Cutaneous melanoma in Spain” prepared, coinciding with the summer season, by the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN) and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM).
It is estimated that in 2022 there will be 7,474 new cases of cutaneous melanoma, which represents an incidence of 16 cases per 100,000 people/year. Thus, it is estimated that 4,097 women and 3,377 men will be diagnosed with this pathology, which places cutaneous melanoma in 9th place among the most frequent cancers in women and 11th in men. By age, the group believed to have a higher incidence is 65 years or older with 44% of cases, followed by 45-64 years with 39% and finally 0-44 years with 17%.
Regarding mortality, it should be noted that in 2020 there were 1,079 deaths from cutaneous melanoma (2.3 per 100,000 people/year), 655 in men and 424 in women. These figures place cutaneous melanoma as the 18th deadliest cancer in women and 21st in men. In addition, we observe that among men the mortality rate increased by 0.4% per year between 2002 and 2020, while among women it decreased by 0.4%. By age, those over 65 have the highest number of deaths, 70%, compared to the 45-64 age group, which has 23%, and the 0-44 age group, which is at 7 %.
Finally, we note that the survival of patients with this type of cancer increased over the period 2008-2013 compared to the period 2002-2007 in both men and women.
REDECAN and SEOM recall that to reduce the risk of developing this type of cancer, direct exposure to the sun must be limited, always use sun protection and avoid the use of tanning devices that emit ultraviolet rays.
This infographic is the result of the collaboration agreement signed in 2018 by REDECAN and SEOM, the first of a series to be produced by the working group set up by the two organizations with the aim of raising public awareness of the importance of primary cancer prevention. The Biomedical Research Center of the Epidemiology and Public Health Network (CIBERESP), the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) and the Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE) also collaborated.