Rates of the deadliest form of skin cancer have reached an all-time high in the UK, according to new analysis from Cancer Research UK. Nearly 21,000 Britons are diagnosed with melanoma each year, and the disease kills around 2,500 annually. The charity warns that cases are set to soar, potentially reaching 26,500 new diagnoses per year by 2040.
Preventable Cases and Risk Factors
More than 80 per cent of melanoma cases are preventable, as the primary cause is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or sunbeds. Women are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, likely due to more time spent tanning, while older men face higher rates later in life, often due to less awareness of sun dangers. Overdiagnosis, where harmless cases are flagged, may also contribute to rising numbers.
Urgent Warning for Bank Holiday Weekend
With temperatures expected to reach 30°C in parts of the UK over the bank holiday weekend, Cancer Research UK is urging people to cover up, use sunscreen, and seek shade. CEO Michelle Mitchell said it is 'concerning' to see diagnoses rising, emphasising that most cases are preventable. Nearly 90 per cent of melanomas are caused by UV damage to skin DNA.
Despite the spike in cases, deaths from melanoma are expected to fall due to improvements in early diagnosis and treatment. Almost nine in ten adults diagnosed in England now survive 10 years or more. Fiona Osgun, head of health information at the charity, stressed that sunburn can occur even on cooler, cloudier days and that getting sunburned once every two years can triple the risk of skin cancer.
Protection and Early Detection
The charity recommends spending time in the shade between 11am and 3pm when UV levels are highest, covering up with hats and sunglasses, and using sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and four or five stars. Doctors use the ABCDE checklist for diagnosing melanoma: asymmetry, border, colour, diameter, and evolving moles. Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, urged anyone noticing unusual skin changes to contact their GP promptly, as early detection saves lives.
'Melanoma skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers,' he said, 'and these figures are a stark reminder of the importance of staying safe in the sun.'
