Irish skin cancer rates spiral 39% in decade

Irish skin cancer rates have risen by 39% in little over a decade, with sun exposure in childhood contributing to as many as 4,280 adult diagnoses every year.

The findings are revealed in a detailed analysis of trends over the past 20 years published by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland.

According to the report, which can be read online at irishexaminer.com, every year an average of 6,889 cases of “invasive skin cancer” are diagnosed in this country — the equivalent of 18 patients a day.

From the mid-1990s until the end of 2001, the research team, said there was “little overall change in incidence rates, with rates in females remaining fairly level and a slight decline in males”.

However, over the subsequent decade, rates have surged by “33%-39%”, with an annual rise of 3%-4% being consistently recorded.

The report said the most common form of skin cancer uncovered during the period was basal cell carcinoma, which is “strongly linked” to acute sunburn in childhood, coupled with occasional adult exposure.

This category of diagnosis accounted for 67.6% of cases during the two-decade period, the equivalent of 4,280 diagnoses every year.

The rate was twice as high as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases, linked solely to “chronic long-term occupational sun exposure”, underlining the long-term affect of parents or guardians failing to follow safe sun advice for their children.

The research by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland also found that men are more likely than women to develop skin cancer.

The report said adult men have a far higher risk of developing SCC tumours on their scalp, neck, and arms.

The study suggested this “may relate to the greater proportion of males having outdoor occupations and therefore more long-term chronic sun exposure than females”.

As in other countries, the majority of diagnoses involved patients over the age of 60.

However, despite the delay in identifying the potentially fatal condition, an average of less than 50 people who develop skin cancer die every year — accounting for just 0.6% of annual cancer mortality rates.

The authors of the report said that while international skin cancer figures are difficult to uncover because of problems in how other countries collate their data, “almost all countries” where substantial records are available have seen a “trend of increasing incidence” in recent years.

They said “programmes targeted at education the population on the risks of sun exposure” that have already proven popular in Australia — including the iconic “slip, slop, slap” TV advert campaign — must now be promoted in Ireland and the rest of Europe.

lFurther details on the research can be found at www.ncri.ie, from the email address [e-mail] or via the phone number 021 431 8014.

Support and information for people affected by cancer is available from the Irish Cancer Society at www.cancer.ie or the freephone number 1800 200 700.