Socioeconomic factors, fashion trends linked to increase in melanoma

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141002123802.htm

Date: October 2, 2014
Source: NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine
Summary:
Researchers explored extenuating factors, such as socioeconomic and fashion trends, that may have contributed to increased incidence of melanoma over the past century.

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The increased incidence of melanoma over the years has been a particular concern, especially with the average age of diagnosis and death from melanoma trending younger than for most of the other major cancers. "Years-of-life lost to melanoma is nearly as high as breast cancer," Dr. Polsky said.

The study, however, did cite one positive trend -- down under. Australia, widely considered the "skin cancer capital of the world" according to Dr. Polsky, has managed to turn things around, possibly with the help of a public education campaign and a change of view about tanning -- thus giving other places still basking in the sun a glimmer of hope.

"Attitudes and behaviors shape exposures. More skin, more sun and more tan lead to more melanoma," Dr. Polsky concluded.

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