Improving outcomes for people with skin tumours including melanoma

Improving Outcomes for
People with Skin Tumours
including Melanoma
Background
Survival in MM is strongly correlated with the depth of invasion at
diagnosis, commonly known as the Breslow thickness [22, 23].
Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC)
NMSCs are the most common cancers in the UK. Although an estimated
50,000 cases were registered in 1999 across England and Wales [16]
there is likely to be significant under-reporting of cases.
1
NMSCs are most common in older age groups. The median age at
diagnosis is 72 years for males and 74 years for females [16]. The most
common places for NMSCs to develop are on the exposed body parts
such as the face, neck, ears, forearms and hands. While these are rarely
fatal, they can result in considerable morbidity.
The age-standardised incidence has continued to increase steadily in
both sexes since the 1970s but has remained higher in males. By 2001,
comparative rates were 65 in females and 96 in males per 100,000
population [20] (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Age-standardised incidence of NMSC, England and
Wales, 1971–2001
Incidence per 100,000 population
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
Year
Males
Females
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
Incidence rates increase with age in males and females from age 25
years onwards. Numbers are higher in males relative to females; in
2001 the incidence reached 1108 per 100,000 in males and 612 per
100,000 in females among those aged 85 years and older [17]
(Figure 8).
2001
18
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence