Big rise in skin-cancer cases shows men are failing to heed warnings

The influence of human behaviour on cancer rates was reflected yesterday in new figures showing malignant melanoma, the most aggressive skin cancer, is rising faster in men than in women.

Over six years from 1992 to 1998, cases of the disease rose 12 per cent among men and 2.1 per cent among women.

Melanoma has traditionally been higher among women because of the fashion for suntanned skin. The incidence of the disease has more than tripled since the 1960s, when two-week package holidays in the sun became popular, and there are now 6,000 new cases a year and 1,600 deaths.

Scientists from Cancer Research UK said yesterday that although women with melanoma still outnumber men the gap between the sexes is narrower than at any time in the past 25 years. Although women were beginning to heed sun warnings, protecting themselves and their children, men were failing to cover up.

Melanoma has been the fastest-rising common cancer over the last 25 years. Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information for the charity, said: "That trend looks set to continue if people continue to ignore sun protection warnings. It is disappointing to find that trends for men are following the same worrying pattern we were recording in women a decade ago."

Dr Charlotte Proby, a dermatologist at Cancer Research UK, said women's magazines had been effective in delivering health messages about looking after the skin. The problem now was how to get the message across to men.

Survival rates for the disease are worse among men than women over a five-year period, although overall survival rates from melanomas are good if it the condition is caught early.

Researchers believe that a possible reason is that in men melanomas tend to occur more commonly on the back, whereas in women they are often on the lower leg and more noticeable. "Men also do not examine their skin as much and are less likely to seek medical attention," Dr Proby said.

An increase in foreign travel and outdoor activities such as water sports might also be to blame, she said.

Dr Proby urged people to seek advice from a doctor within two weeks of noticing any changes in moles. She also dispelled the myth that people need large amounts of sunshine to be healthy, adding: "The average person can get the adequate amount of vitamin D just by walking to and from work."