# Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program

Turning Cancer Data Into Discovery Home Statistical Summaries Cancer Stat Fact Sheets Melanoma of the Skin 

# SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Melanoma of the Skin

Estimated New Cases in 2015 % of All New Cancer Cases Estimated Deaths in 2015 % of All Cancer Deaths 73,870 4.5% 9,940 1.7% Percent Surviving 5 Years 

# 91.5% 2005-2011 

## At a Glance

Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The numb er of new cases of melanoma of the skin was 21.6 pe r 100,000 men and women per year. The number of dea ths was 2.7 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and ba sed on 2008-2012 cases and deaths. Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 2 .1 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with melanoma of the skin at some point during their lifetime, based on 2010-2012 data. Prevalence of This Cancer Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2012, there were an e stimated 996,587 people living with melanoma of the skin in the United States. 

# Statistics at a Glance 

# Page 1 of 8 Melanoma of the Skin
- SEER Stat Fact Sheets

7/21/2015 http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.htmlPercent Surviving 5 Years 

# 91.5% How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Melanoma of the Skin? Relative survival (http://surveillance.cancer.gov/survival/measures.h tml) statistics compare the survival of patients diagnos ed with cancer with the survival of people in the g eneral population who are the same age, race, and sex and who have not been diagnosed with cancer. Because survival statistics are based on la rge groups of people, they cannot be used to predic t exactly what will happen to an individual patient . No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment a nd responses to treatment can vary greatly.

Based on data from SEER 18 2005-2011. Gray figures represent those who have died from melanoma of the skin. Green figures represent those who have surviv ed 5 years or more. Additional Information More about 5-year survival rates (http://seer.cancer.gov/statistics/types/survival.h tml) 

# Survival Statistics 

# Page 2 of 8 Melanoma of the Skin
- SEER Stat Fact Sheets

7/21/2015 http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.htmlPercent of Cases by Stage 5-Year Relative Survival 

## Survival by Stage Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent o f a cancer in the body, determines treatment option s and has a strong influence on the length of survi val. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has sprea d to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant . The earlier melanoma of the skin is caught, the b etter chance a person has of surviving five years after b eing diagnosed. For melanoma of the skin, 84.0% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year survival for localized melanoma of the skin is 98.3%.

SEER 18 2005-2011, All Races, Both Sexes by SEER Su mmary Stage 2000 Additional Information More about melanoma of the skin staging (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/m elanoma/Patient/page2) 

### Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stag e at Diagnosis: Melanoma of the Skin Localized (84%) Confined to Primary Site Regional (9%) Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes Distant (4%) Cancer Has Metastasized Unknown (3%) Unstaged 

# Page 3 of 8 Melanoma of the Skin
- SEER Stat Fact Sheets

7/21/2015 http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.htmlCommon Types of Cancer Estimated New Cases 2015 Estimated

Deaths 2015 1. Breast Cancer (Female) 231,840 40,290 2. Lung and Bronchus Cancer 221,200 158,040 3. Prostate Cancer 220,800 27,540 4. Colon and Rectum Cancer 132,700 49,700 5. Bladder Cancer 74,000 16,000 6. 6. Melanoma of the Skin Melanoma of the Skin Melanoma of the Skin 73,870 9,940 7. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 71,850 19,790 8. Thyroid Cancer 62,450 1,950 9. Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer 61,560 14,080 10. Endometrial Cancer 54,870 10,170 Melanoma of the skin represents 4.5% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

4.5% 

## How Common Is This Cancer? Compared to other cancers, melanoma of the skin is fairly common.

In 2015, it is estimated that there will be 73,870 new cases of melanoma of the skin and an estimated 9,940 people will die of this disease. 

# Number of New Cases and Deaths 

# Page 4of 8 Melanoma of the Skin
- SEER Stat Fact Sheets

7/21/2015 http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.htmlMelanoma of the skin is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 55-64. Median Age At Diagnosis 

# 63 Who Gets This Cancer? Melanoma is more common in men than women and among individuals of fair complexion and those who have been exposed to natural or artificial sunlight (suc h as tanning beds) over long periods of time. There are more new cases among whites than any othe r racial/ethnic group. The number of new cases of m elanoma of the skin was 21.6 per 100,000 men and wo men per year based on 2008-2012 cases.

SEER 18 2008-2012, All Races, Both Sexes

All Races White Black Asian / Pacific Islander American Indian / Alaska Native Hispanic Non-Hispanic SEER 18 2008-2012, Age-Adjusted 

### Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Melanoma of the Skin

Number of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Eth nicity & Sex: Melanoma of the Skin 

# Page 5 of 8 Melanoma of the Skin
- SEER Stat Fact Sheets

7/21/2015 http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.htmlThe percent of melanoma of the skin deaths is highest among people aged 75-84. Median Age At Death 

# 69 Who Dies From This Cancer? For melanoma of the skin, death rates are higher am ong the middle-aged and elderly. The number of deat hs was 2.7 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2008-2012 deaths.

U.S. 2008-2012, All Races, Both Sexes

All Races White Black Asian / Pacific Islander American Indian / Alaska Native Hispanic Non-Hispanic U.S. 2008-2012, Age-Adjusted 

### Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Melanoma of the Ski n

Number of Deaths per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnic ity & Sex: Melanoma of the Skin 

# Page 6of 8 Melanoma of the Skin
- SEER Stat Fact Sheets

7/21/2015 http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html

## Changes Over Time Keeping track of the number of new cases, deaths, a nd survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments. Using statistical models for analysis, rates for ne w melanoma of the skin cases have been rising on av erage 1.4% each year over the last 10 years. Death rates have been stable over 2002-2012. 5-year survival trends are shown below the figure.

Year Year 1975 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 1999 2003

2007 5-Year Relative Survival 81.8% 83.9% 86.1% 89.2% 90.1% 92 .3% 93.2% 93.2% SEER 9 Incidence & U.S. Mortality 1975-2012, All Ra ces, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted. 

# Trends in Rates

New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival View Data Table (http://seer.cancer.govld/melan.html) 

# Page 7 of 8 Melanoma of the Skin
- SEER Stat Fact Sheets

7/21/2015 http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.htmlThe SEER Website is a service of the Surveillance Research Program, NCI NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health 

## Melanoma

(http://seer.cancer.gov/i/factsheets/melan-lg.jpg) Figure: Melanoma Anatomy Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body, but it is most common in skin that is often exposed to sun light, such as the face, neck, hands, and arms. The re are different types of cancer that start in the skin. Melanoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) c ells form in the skin cells called melanocytes (cel ls that color the skin). Melanocytes (http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition. aspx? id=46292&version=Patient&language=English) are found throughout the lower part of the epidermi s. They make melanin, the pigment that gives skin i ts natural color. Additional Information Learn more about melanoma (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/m elanoma/Patient) 

## More Information Here are some resources for learning more about mel anoma of the skin. More about risk factors for melanoma (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/m elanoma/Patient/page1#Keypoint3) More about symptoms and diagnosis of melanoma (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/m elanoma/Patient/page1#Keypoint4) More about treatment options for melanoma (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/m elanoma/Patient/page4) More about clinical trials (http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials) More about cancer prevention (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/ overview/patient) 

## References All statistics in this report are based on statisti cs from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control an d Prevention's National Center for Health Statistic s. Most can be found within: 

## Suggested Citation All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission ; citation as to source, however, is appreciated. SEER Cancer Statistics Factsheets: Melanoma of the Skin. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html (http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html) This factsheet focuses on population statistics tha t are based on the US population. Because these sta tistics are based on large groups of people, they c annot be used to predict exactly what will happen t o an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, bro wse the SEER Cancer Statistics Review (http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/) . To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles (http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/) . The statistics presented in this factsheet are base d on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in the SEER Cancer Statistics Review(http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/) . In some cases, different year spans may be used. Estimates for the current year are bas ed on past data. Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. This factsheet does not add ress causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow -up care, or decision making, although it provides links to information in many of these areas. 

# More About This Cancer

Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, Garshell J, MillerD, Altekruse SF, Kosary CL, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovi ch Z,Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Croni n KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975- 2012, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2012/ (http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/) , based on November 2014 SEER data submission, post ed to the SEER web site, April 2015.

® 

# Page 8 of 8 Melanoma of the Skin
- SEER Stat Fact Sheets

7/21/2015 http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html