Melanoma Up 50 Percent in Women Over Last 30 Years

July 12, 2008 — -- A new report shows that while melanoma among men has decreased in the last 30 years it has jumped 50 percent among women.

There is no conclusive answer as to why there has been an increase in women. Over the past 30 years more people have become aware of the dangers from the sun, and media — through various methods such as health articles in magazines and reports on cancer statistics — have motivated people to come in for checkups. While more women are more aware of melanoma, tanning bed usage is also up. One million people go to tanning salons a day, and 71 percent of tanning salon patrons are young women.

Melanoma is the number one cancer killer from women ages 25 to 29. Dermatologist Doris Day reminds us what to look for when checking our skin:

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Many melanomas are curable. There is a 95 percent cure rate when it's caught early, so it's important to pay attention to your skin and your moles.

Dr. Day's Tips: