UK reports 20,980 melanoma cases

Cancer Research UK said on May 22 that melanoma skin cancer diagnoses in the United Kingdom reached a record high, with 20,980 cases recorded in 2022. The charity said that was the first time annual cases had risen above 20,000 in the UK. It said melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and that nearly 9 in 10 UK cases are caused by too much ultraviolet radiation from the sun and sunbeds. ### Which organization reported the figure, and what exactly does it cover? Cancer Research UK published the new analysis on May 22 through its news site and linked it to the latest available UK incidence data. The 20,980 total refers to melanoma diagnoses in 2022 across the United Kingdom, rather than a running count for 2026. (news.cancerresearchuk.org) The charity’s health-professional statistics page says melanoma is the fourth most common cancer in UK males and includes long-run incidence data, survival, mortality and risk information. The new release presented the 2022 figure as a record high in a single year. (news.cancerresearchuk.org) ### Why are UK melanoma cases rising? Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said it was “concerning” to see the number of people diagnosed with melanoma rising across the UK. The charity said the increase is tied to preventable exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and sunbeds. (cancerresearchuk.org) Cancer Research UK’s statistics page also says melanoma incidence rates in the UK have increased by 164% since the early 1990s and by around 26% over the last decade, using the latest multi-year incidence series it publishes. Those figures describe rates, not just raw case counts, and show the rise predates this year’s announcement. (news.cancerresearchuk.org) ### Did the charity publish an age or regional breakdown with this release? The May 22 release did not set out a regional or age-group breakdown alongside the 20,980 figure. The charity instead used the announcement to highlight the overall UK total and prevention message ahead of warmer weather. (cancerresearchuk.org) Cancer Research UK does publish broader breakdowns elsewhere. Its melanoma statistics page says around 32% of new UK melanoma cases are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over, and incidence rates are highest among people aged 85 to 89, based on the years cited on that page. (news.cancerresearchuk.org) ### What did Cancer Research UK say people should do? Cancer Research UK said melanoma is largely preventable and urged the public to be “sun safe.” The charity’s release said people can reduce risk by protecting their skin and avoiding sunburn. The charity’s explanation matches its longer-running public guidance that too much UV exposure is the main preventable driver of melanoma risk in the UK. (cancerresearchuk.org) That guidance covers both natural sunlight and artificial UV exposure from sunbeds. ### What comes next in the published data? Cancer Research UK’s incidence projections say melanoma skin cancer rates in the UK are expected to increase by 8% between 2024-2026 and 2038-2040, with around 26,500 new cases a year by 2038-2040. (news.cancerresearchuk.org) The charity cited that projection in coverage of the new record. Cancer Research UK’s health-professional statistics pages remain the place where updated incidence tables, projections and breakdowns are published as new national datasets are incorporated. (cancerresearchuk.org 1) (cancerresearchuk.org 2)