Skin Cancer in Ireland: New report shows nearly 100% survival rate for most cases.

National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) reveals positive trends but highlights ongoing risks and prevention needs.

A new report published by the NCRI shows good news for skin cancer patients with most people (close to 100%) surviving at least five years after being diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer. For melanoma, the more serious type of skin cancer, survival rates have improved significantly to 92% (meaning about 9 out of 10 patients survive at least five years).

Key facts:

• More than 11,000 people in Ireland are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, making skin cancer the most common cancer in Ireland.
• About 9 out of 10 cases are non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), other types include melanoma.
• Almost all non-melanoma patients survive at least 5 years, whereas about 9 out of 10 melanoma patients survive at least 5 years.
• About 270 people die from skin cancer each year in Ireland.

What the numbers tell us about different groups:

The incidence rate of certain NMSC cancers (squamous cell carcinoma or SCC) is decreasing in women, and the rate for other forms (basil cell carcinoma or BCC) is stabilising. However, the incidence rate for melanoma in women continues to increase.

For men, the incidence rate of SCC is stabilising, while the BCC incidence rate is increasing at a slower pace. For melanoma, the incidence rate in men stopped increasing since 2015.

Men are more likely to die from skin cancer than women:

• 1.6 times more likely to die from melanoma.
• 2.3 times more likely to die from non-melanoma skin cancer.

Why survival rates are so good:

Most skin cancers (both melanoma and non-melanoma) are caught early (at stage I or II), which makes them much easier to treat successfully.

Commenting on the report, Prof. Deirdre Murray, Director of the National Cancer Registry said: "Understanding the trends in skin cancer is vital for public health awareness and prevention strategies. Many of these cancers could be prevented with wider adoption of safe sun practices in our population and avoidance of sun beds."

Read the report