Melanoma Cases on the Rise
March 9, 2010 (Miami Beach, Fla.) -- While some researchers suggest the rising rates of melanoma may simply reflect a change in how doctors diagnose melanoma and the increased availability of skin cancer screenings, a leading dermatologist says the increase is real.
The average American's risk of developing melanoma in his or her lifetime increased from one in 1,500 in 1930, to one in 250 in 1980 and one in 74 in 2000, says Darrell S. Rigel, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center in New York City and a past president of the American Academy of Dermatology.
By 2004, a person had a one in 65 chance of getting the deadly skin cancer and now that risk is one in 58, Rigel says.
"If this rate continues to rise at the same pace, the risk will be one in 50 by 2015," he tells WebMD.
A total of 68,720 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma in 2009, compared with 47,700 in 2000, according to the CDC.
At the American Academy of Dermatology's annual meeting here, Rigel dispelled what he calls myths about the rise in melanoma.
Precancerous Skin Lesions and Skin Cancer
The average American's risk of developing melanoma in his or her lifetime increased from one in 1,500 in 1930, to one in 250 in 1980 and one in 74 in 2000, says Darrell S. Rigel, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center in New York City and a past president of the American Academy of Dermatology.
By 2004, a person had a one in 65 chance of getting the deadly skin cancer and now that risk is one in 58, Rigel says.
"If this rate continues to rise at the same pace, the risk will be one in 50 by 2015," he tells WebMD.
A total of 68,720 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma in 2009, compared with 47,700 in 2000, according to the CDC.
At the American Academy of Dermatology's annual meeting here, Rigel dispelled what he calls myths about the rise in melanoma.
Precancerous Skin Lesions and Skin Cancer
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