Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Melanoma makes up a very small portion of the total diagnosed skin cancers, less than 5%.
Skincancer.org shares many surprising facts & statistics about skin cancer and melanoma. Historical data indicates between 8,000 and 9,000 people die each year from melanoma. Knowing the early warning signs for skin cancer can help detect abnormalities and increase a patient’s melanoma survival rate.
Nearly all incidents of melanoma can be attributed to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Ethnicity does play a factor in melanoma rates. Caucasians have the highest rate of melanoma. Melanoma in other ethnic groups such as Hispanics, Asians, and African Americans is rare but does occur. Therefore all people should be aware of the early warning signs of skin cancer and melanoma.
