Male skin cancer diagnoses up 21% in five years

Male skin cancer diagnoses have surged by 21% in just five years, a major national awareness campaign has warned.

Details revealed by VHI healthcare as part of the month-long Blue September cancer prevention campaign show that approximately 700 more men were being diagnosed with the condition today than half a decade ago.

According to the figures, in 2009, a total of 3,200 men were treated for skin cancer, which despite our less than sun-kissed weather is one of the most common types of cancer in Ireland because people fail to take precautions.