10.1 Summary

Melanoma of the skin was the seventh most common cancer in Ireland, accounting for 4.1% of all malignant neoplasms, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, in women and 2.6% in men (Table 10.1). The average number of new cases diagnosed each year was 421 in women and 285 in men. During 1995-2007, the number of new cases diagnosed increased at approximately 5% per annum overall.

The risk of developing melanoma up to the age of 74 was 1 in 89 for women and 1 in 116 for men, and was slightly higher in RoI than in NI. At the end of 2008, 2,991 women and 1,707 men aged under 65, and 2,140 women and 1,336 men aged 65 and over, were alive up to 15 years after their melanoma diagnosis.

Table 10.1 Summary information for melanoma of the skin in Ireland, 1995-2007

 

Ireland

RoI

NI

 

females

males

females

males

females

males

% of all new cancer cases

3.0%

1.9%

3.1%

1.9%

2.7%

1.8%

% of all new cancer cases excluding non-melanoma skin cancer

4.1%

2.6%

4.3%

2.6%

3.6%

2.5%

average number of new cases per year

421

285

298

201

123

84

cumulative risk to age 74

1.1%

0.9%

1.2%

0.9%

1.0%

0.8%

15-year prevalence (1994-2008)

5131

3043

3525

2074

1606

969

Melanoma of the skin is a disease of younger age groups, with 36% of women and 31% of men aged under 50 at diagnosis (Figure 10.1). Over half of all new cases presented under 60 years. However, a substantial proportion of cases (12-13%) was diagnosed in the age group 80 and older. Age patterns were similar for RoI and NI.

Figure 10.1 Age distribution of cases of melanoma of the skin in Ireland, 1995-2007, by sex

Building 6800
Cork Airport Business Park
Kinsale Road, Cork T12 CDF7
Email Contact us here
Tel: +353 (0) 21 4318014
Fax: +353 (0) 21 4318016

NCRI directions

Go to top