PHOM Indicator Profile Report of Melanoma of the Skin Deaths

Why Is This Important?

While melanoma is much less common than other skin cancers such as basal cell and squamous cell, it is far more dangerous. According to the American Cancer Society, there are several risk factors associated with melanoma. Risk factors that can be individually controlled or modified are excessive exposure to sunlight and UV radiation during work and recreation. A history of sunburns early in life significantly increases one's risk for melanoma. Risk for melanoma also increases with the increased severity of sunburn or blisters. Lifetime sun exposure, even if sunburn does not occur, is another risk factor for melanoma. Another risk factor for melanoma is geography. People who live in certain areas of the U.S. such as areas with a high elevation, warmer climate, and where sunlight can be reflected by sand, water, snow, and ice experience higher rates of melanoma. Utah is one such geographic location that provides these conditions. Risk for melanoma is greatly increased by the practice of tanning, both outside with oils and by using sunlamps and tanning booths. Even people who tan well without burning are at risk for melanoma. Tan skin is evidence of skin damaged by UV radiation. The risk of melanoma is greatly increased by using these artificial sources of UV radiation before age 30. Health care providers strongly encourage people, especially young people, to avoid tanning beds, booths, and sunlamps.

Data Notes

ICD-O3 Site C440-C449 and Histology 8720-8790: Melanoma of the Skin, which corresponds to ICD-10 code C43.   [[br]][[br]] Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population using 11 age adjustment age-groups (0, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64,65-74, 75-84, 85+).

Risk Factors

Risk factors that can be individually controlled or modified are excessive exposure to sunlight and UV radiation during work and recreation. A history of sunburns early in life significantly increases one's risk for melanoma. Risk for melanoma also increases with the increased severity of sunburn or blisters. Lifetime sun exposure, even if sunburn does not occur, is another risk factor for melanoma. Risk for melanoma is greatly increased by the practice of tanning, both outside with oils and by using sunlamps and tanning booths. Another risk factor for melanoma is geography. People who live in certain areas of the U.S. such as areas with a high elevation, warmer climate, and where sunlight can be reflected by sand, water, snow, and ice experience higher rates of melanoma.

How Are We Doing?

Utah has consistently ranked as one of the highest states in terms of melanoma incidence and mortality nationwide, partially due to its geographic features such as high elevation and desert landscape that contribute to increased risk of developing melanoma. In Utah, melanoma death rates have decreased somewhat over time, from 3.1 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999 to 2.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2022. Skin cancer death rates in Utah vary based on geography, age, sex, and ethnicity. Age-adjusted mortality rates for combined years 2018-2022 show melanoma death rates vary across local health districts (LHDs), from a high of 4.9 deaths per 100,000 population in Southeast Utah LHD to 2.4 deaths per 100,000 persons in Southwest Utah LHD, though these rates are not significantly different. Rates of skin cancer deaths increase significantly with age. From 2018-2022 for all groups over the age of 45, males were significantly more likely to die from skin cancer than females (8.6 deaths per 100,000 males compared to 5.2 deaths per 100,000 females). For combined years 2018-2022, non-Hispanic persons had significantly higher rates of skin cancer death (2.9 deaths per 100,000 population) compared to those who identify as Hispanic (1.2 deaths per 100,000 population).

What Is Being Done?

The mission of the Utah Cancer Coalition is to lower cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality in Utah through collaborative efforts directed toward cancer prevention and control. As a result, they support community-based strategies around food security, healthy neighborhoods, access to health care, and financial toxicity in order to prevent cancer; detect cancer early; and improve the lives of cancer survivors, caregivers, and their families.