Incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer increasing
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Incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer has increased substantially in the U.S., according to a new study.
Researchers analyzed Medicare and national survey data to determine incidence of skin cancer procedures in 1992 and from 1996 to 2006, as well as office visits for nonmelanoma skin cancer. Incidence was defined as both newly diagnosed nonmelanoma skin cancer and persons who were newly diagnosed, with the former as the primary definition. The authors used data on treatment procedures for skin cancer to estimate the number of cases. The study results appear in the March Archives of Dermatology.
Overall, skin cancer procedures in Medicare fee-for-service patients increased 76.9% from 1992 to 2006, while the annual age-adjusted procedure rate per 100,000 beneficiaries rose from 3,514 to 6,075. Skin cancer procedures in Medicare patients increased 16% from 2002 to 2006, while procedures per affected patient and persons who had at least one procedure increased by 1.5% and 14.3%, respectively. The authors estimated that in 2006, approximately 3.5 million nonmelanoma skin cancers and approximately 2.2 million people were treated in the U.S.
The authors acknowledged that they equated one skin cancer procedure with one incident skin cancer when determining incidence, among other limitations. However, they concluded that rates of nonmelanoma skin cancer have increased “dramatically” in the U.S. from 1992 to 2006. In light of these results, and because educational programs urging sun safety have not been widely effective, “continued national research and programs on treatment, education, and prevention are critical,” the authors wrote.