Deaths in skin cancers increase in men in developed countries | Society

Deaths of skin cancers in men have increased in rich countries since 1985, with female mortality rates increasing more slowly or even decreasing, researchers said at a medical conference in Glasgow.

The reasons for the discrepancy between the bades are unclear, but evidence suggests that men are "less likely to protect themselves from the sun" or allow for public health warnings, said Dorothy Yang, a physician. Royal Free London Hospital London.

According to the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 90% of melanoma cancers are caused by skin damage from exposure to the sun or other sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. ) such as tanning beds.

In eight of the 18 countries examined, the mortality rate for skin cancer in men had increased by at least 50% over the last 30 years.

In two countries – Ireland and Croatia – it has roughly doubled.

Spain and Great Britain (70%), the Netherlands (60%), as well as France and Belgium (50%) also recorded strong growth.

In the United States, which was not included in the study, mortality from male melanoma increased by about 25%, according to CDC statistics.

However, research has shown that the countries with the highest increase in skin cancer deaths are not those with the highest mortality rates.

In Australia, for example, nearly six out of every 100,000 men died of the disease in 2013-2015. This is twice the second highest mortality rate (Finland), but only an increase of 10% over 30 years earlier.

"Australia has been one of the first to implement public health media campaigns since the 1970s to promote" smart "behavior," Yang said before presenting his data at the UK's 2018 conference. about cancer in Glasgow.

As debates continue on Australia's record skin cancer rate, which stems from the depletion of the ozone layer filtering ultraviolet radiation into the stratosphere, 30 years of public health campaigns have undoubtedly sensitized Australians to the dangers.

The so-called "hole in the ozone layer" was particularly important in Australia when efforts were launched.

In Australia, the number of deaths from skin cancer among women in 1985 was half that of men and decreased by 10% over the next 30 years, reported Yang and three of her colleagues.

Austria (9%), the Czech Republic (16%) and Israel (23%) also experienced a decline in female mortality related to the disease during the same period. In several other countries – Romania, Sweden and Great Britain – there have been slight increases.

However, in some sun-loving countries, the death rate among women has risen at least as much as men: the Netherlands (58%), Ireland (49%), Belgium (67%) and Spain (74%). %).

Japan has by far the lowest melanoma death rate among men and women at 0.24 and 0.18 per 100,000, respectively.

Scientists are investigating whether biological or genetic factors could also play a role in skin cancer, but the results obtained so far are inconclusive, Yang said.