The sharp increase in the number of cases has occurred between the years 2005 and 2019 and covers the Southern healthcare region. It includes Skåne, Blekinge, Kronoberg and southern Halland.
In the report, which comes from the Regional Cancer Center South, there are figures that point to a further doubling of the number of patients until 2034 if the trend continues.
The increase in malignant melanoma is seen in all age groups, but is greatest among those over 60. Melanoma is today the fifth most common cancer among both women and men in Sweden. Sweden is in fifth place in the world in terms of the number of newly diagnosed cases of melanoma in relation to our population size.
The main risk factor for melanoma and other skin cancer diagnoses is exposure to UV light – from the sun or tanning beds. Calculations from the Institute for Health Economics show that approximately 90 percent of all cases of skin melanoma can be traced to UV exposure.
The report states, among other things, that a possible measure to prevent more cases would be a total ban on cosmetic tanning beds, as there is a link between melanoma and frequent tanning beds.