Study finds more deaths associated with nonmelanoma skin cancer than melanoma

Key takeaways:

• Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) cases totaled nearly 1.2 million worldwide in 2020, accounting for 78% of all skin cancer cases.
• Approximately 63,700 deaths resulted from NMSC vs. about 57,000 from melanoma.

A higher proportion of patients are dying from nonmelanoma skin cancer globally than melanoma, according to a press release from the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology.

The findings were reported at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology 2023 Congress. The study found that nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is causing more deaths globally than melanoma, even though melanoma is considered the more serious form of skin cancer, according to the press release.

In 2020, researchers found that there were nearly 1.2 million reported cases of NMSC worldwide, accounting for 78% of all skin cancer cases, compared with only 324,635 cases of melanoma. In the same year, NMSC was responsible for an estimated 63,700 deaths compared with approximately 57,000 fatalities from melanoma.

“As alarming as these figures are, they may, in fact, be underestimated,” Thierry Passeron, MD, PhD, professor and chair of dermatology at Nice University Hospital in France and lead author of the study, said in the release. “NMSC is often underreported in cancer registries, making it challenging to understand the true burden.”

Utilizing data from the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer in the U.S., Germany, U.K., France, Australia and Italy, the study found that individuals with fair skin and individuals who are elderly experience the highest incidence of skin cancer.

According to the press release, the incidence of skin cancer was still present among populations with darker skin of color, with 11,281 skin cancer deaths occurring in Africa.

“We have to get the message out that not only melanoma can be fatal, but NMSC also,” Passeron said. “It’s crucial to note that individuals with melanin-rich skin are also at risk and are dying from skin cancer. There is a need to implement effective strategies to reduce the fatalities associated with all kinds of skin cancers.”

The press release reports that there is inconsistent evidence to support the idea that increasing the number of dermatologists per capita could reduce mortality rates. In fact, European countries saw lower mortality rates even though they have fewer dermatologists per capita.

Passeron suggests that possibly involving other health care practitioners, such as general practitioners, in identifying and managing skin cancers can lower the risk. Additionally, increasing awareness campaigns and educating the general public on sun safety may have a positive effect.