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 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: The numb Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: er of new cases of melanoma of the skin was 21.6 per 100,000 men and women per year. The number of deaths was 2.7 per 100,000 men and 

women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2008-2012 cases and deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 2 Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer .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: In 2012, there were an e Prevalence of This Cancer stimated 996,587 people living with melanoma of the skin in the United States.

Statistics at a Glance

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Percent 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.html) statistics compare the survival of patients diagnosed with cancer with the survival of people in the general population who are the same age, 

race, and sex and who have not been diagnosed with cancer. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. 

No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and 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 survived 5 years or more.

Additional Information

More about 5-year survival rates (http://seer.cancer.gov/statistics/types/survival.html)

Survival Statistics

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Percent of Cases by Stage 5-Year Relative Survival

Survival by Stage

Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. 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 spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier melanoma of the skin is caught, the better 

chance a person has of surviving five years after being 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 Summary Stage 2000

Additional Information

More about melanoma of the skin staging (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/Patient/page2)

Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage 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

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Common 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. Melanoma of the Skin 6. 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

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Melanoma 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 (such as tanning beds) over long periods of time. 

There are more new cases among whites than any other racial/ethnic group. The number of new cases of melanoma of the skin was 21.6 per 100,000 men and women 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/Ethnicity & Sex: Melanoma of the Skin

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The 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 among the middle-aged and elderly. The number of deaths 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 Skin

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

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Changes Over Time

Keeping track of the number of new cases, deaths, and 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 new melanoma of the skin cases have been rising on average 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 1975 Year 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 Races, 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)

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The 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 sunlight, such as the face, neck, hands, and arms. There are different types of cancer that start in the skin.

Melanoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the skin cells called melanocytes (cells 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 epidermis. They make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its natural color. 

Additional Information

Learn more about melanoma (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/Patient)

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about melanoma of the skin.

More about risk factors for melanoma (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/Patient/page1#Keypoint3)

More about symptoms and diagnosis of melanoma (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/Patient/page1#Keypoint4)

More about treatment options for melanoma (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/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 statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. 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 that are based on the US population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an 

individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse 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 based 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 based on past data.

Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. This factsheet does not address 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, Miller D, Altekruse SF, Kosary CL, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z,Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin 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, posted to the SEER web site, April 2015.

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