Fatal skin cancer rates 'higher in men'

Skin cancer rates have been found to be much higher in men than women, according to Cancer Research UK and the University of Leeds. Rates of malignant melanoma, which is the most serious form of the disease, are around 70 per cent higher in men than in women.

Very similar numbers of both men and women are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, but it is more likely to be fatal to males. Around 3.4 per cent of every 100,000 men that are diagnosed with this form of the disease die because of it. This is a vast difference from the two per cent of women for whom malignant melanoma is fatal. The diagnosis rate of this form of skin cancer is very similar, with 17.3 per cent of women per every 100,000 diagnosed with skin cancer being diagnosed with malignant melanoma, compared to 17.2 per cent of men.

Some 6,200 men are diagnosed with this form of skin cancer each year, with it being fatal to around 1,300. In comparison, of the 6,600 women who develop the disease, only 900 die each year. It is expected that the gap between the genders and the number of fatal malignant melanoma cases is likely to increase, as more men die while more women remain in stable condition.  

According to Professor Julia Newton-Bishop from the University of Leeds, this difference in outcome could partially be explained by the fact that men are more likely to be diagnosed with malignant melanoma at an advanced stage, in which case their odds are significantly lowered. However, she also said biological factors could also be at play, which cause men's and women's bodies to deal with the disease in different manners.

“We also know that men and women tend to develop melanoma in different places – more often on the back and chest for men and on the arms and legs for women. If melanoma does develop on your back then it may be more difficult to spot – asking your partner to check your back is a good idea," continued Professor Newton-Bishop.