Skin cancer is the most common group of cancers diagnosed in the United States and worldwide.[5][6][7] Skin cancer is a heterogeneous group of cancers currently in a worldwide epidemic. It is categorized into two major types: melanoma and NMSC. One of every three diagnosed cancers worldwide is skin cancer, of which NMSC is the most common.[8][9]

Melanoma
Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer. An epidemiological assessment of global cancer data estimated that 325,000 new melanoma cases and 57,000 deaths due to melanoma occurred in 2020.[10] If 2020 rates remain stable, the global burden of melanoma is estimated to increase to 510,000 new cases (a 57% increase) and 96,000 deaths (a 68% increase) by 2040. 10[10]

Nonmelanoma skin cancers
NMSC is a common type of cancer. The main types are Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC).
More than 5,4 million cases of NMSCs (3,6 million cases of BCC and 1,8 million cases of SCC) in the US were treated in 2012. More than 5,400 people worldwide die of NMSC every month.[3]
Over 7 million Europeans are estimated to have skin cancer, despite 'majority of cases' being preventable. [12]
The number of NMSC deaths attributable to occupational exposure to UVR almost doubled between 2000 and 2019. [13]

Key factors in reducing mortality rates are prevention, early detection, and timely complete removal.
The importance of prevention is highlighted by a UK study that identifies UV radiation from the sun as the main cause of melanoma in 86% of cases.[4] The importance of early detection is underscored by 5-year survival rates: 99% for early-detected melanomas, 66% for melanomas with lymph node involvement, and 27% for melanomas with visceral metastases.[14] The significance of timely, complete removal is best illustrated by mortality rates for stage 1 melanoma: there is a 5% higher mortality rate if the melanoma is completely removed after one month, and as much as 41% if complete removal is done after 120 days.[4]

  1. Cancer Facts and Figures 2024. American Cancer Society.
  2. Natalie H. Matthews, Wen-Qing Li, Abrar A. Qureshi, Martin A. Weinstock, and Eunyoung Cho. Cutaneous Melanoma: Etiology and Therapy. Brisbane (AU): Codon Publications; 2017 Dec 21.
  3. Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaboration. Global, regional and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017. JAMA Oncol. 2019;5(12):1749-1768. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.2996.
  4. Parkin DM, Mesher D, Sasieni P. Cancers attributable to solar (ultraviolet) radiation exposure in the UK in 2010. Br J Cancer 2011; 105:S66-S69.
  5. Urban K, Mehrmal S, Uppal P, Giesey RL, Delost GR. The global burden of skin cancer: a longitudinal analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990–2017. JAAD Int. 2021;2:98–108
  6. Guy GP, Jr., Thomas CC, Thompson T, et al. Vital signs: melanoma incidence and mortality trends and projections - United States, 1982-2030. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Jun 5 2015;64(21):591-6.
  7. Guy GP, Jr., Machlin SR, Ekwueme DU, Yabroff KR. Prevalence and costs of skin cancer treatment in the U.S., 2002-2006 and 2007-2011. Am J Prev Med. Feb 2015;48(2):183-187
  8. K. Urban, S. Mehrmal, P. Uppal, R.L. Giesey, G.R. Delost.The global burden of skin cancer: a longitudinal analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990–2017. JAAD Int, 2 (2021), pp. 98 108
  10. L. Ali, A.H. Roky, A.K. Azad, et al. Autophagy as a targeted therapeutic approach for skin cancer: evaluating natural and synthetic molecular interventions. Cancer Pathog Ther (1 February 2024)
  11. Arnold M, Singh D, Laversanne M, Vignat J, Laccarella S, Meheus F, Cust AE, Vries ED, Whiteman DC, Bray F. Global Burden of Cutaneous Melanoma in 2020 and Projections to 2040. JAMA Dermatol 2022 Mar 30;158(5):495–503. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.0160
  12. Rodgers HW, Weinstock MA, Feldman SR, Coldiron BM. Incidence estimate of nonmelanoma skin cancer (keratinocytic carcinomas) in US population 2012. Jama Dermatol 2015; 151(10):1081-1086.
  13. Survey presented at EADV’s Spring Symposium 2022.
  14. Pega F, Momen NC, Streicher KN, Roux ML, Neupane S, Schubauer-Berigan MK et all. Global, regional and national burdens of non-melanoma skin cancer attributable to occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation for 183 countries, 2000–2019: A systematic analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury. Environment International Volume 181, November 2023, 108226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108226
  15. Conic RZ, Cabrera CI, Khorana AA, Gastman BR. Determination of the impact of melanoma surgical timing on survival using the National Cancer Database. J Am Acad Dermatol 2018; 78(1):40-46.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.039.