Changes in the Incidence of Skin and Lip Cancer Between 1978 and 2007

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze trends in the incidence of skin cancer worldwide, in Europe, and in Spain between 1978 and 2007.

Material and methods: Skin cancer incidence and trends for the period 1978 to 2007 were investigated using the age- and sex-standardized rates (per 100,000 population) published in the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents series.

Results: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma increased progressively from 1978 to 2002 but decreased in the last period analyzed (2003-2007). The highest rates were reported for Australia and the white population in Hawaii. In Spain, the incidence of melanoma tripled in both sexes over the study period. The incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer also increased between 1978 and 2007, and higher rates were detected in men. The highest incidence rates were recorded in Australia, Brazil, and among the European inhabitants of Zimbabwe. In Spain, the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer had doubled or tripled in both sexes by the end of the study period.

Limitations: We were unable to analyze data for the period 2008 to 2012 due to a 5-year delay in the publication of data by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Conclusions: The rise in the incidence of skin cancer, assessed using age-standardized rates, suggests that primary prevention measures are insufficient or inappropriate. The reduction in the incidence of cutaneous melanoma in Australia between 2003 and 2007 suggests that the preventive strategies initiated several decades earlier in that country have been effective.