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Nine out of ten people diagnosed with the most dangerous form of skin cancer in Northern Ireland now survive the disease, compared with eight out of ten people in the rest of the UK. That’s according to the latest figures from Queen’s University’s Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.

The Northern Ireland figures are included in UK-wide report on malignant melanoma rates published today (Monday 22 July) by Cancer Research UK. Northern Ireland has seen a slight increase in survival rates for the disease, despite a large increase in the number of cases being diagnosed, particularly among men. 

The data from the Queen’s Northern Ireland Cancer Registry shows that 89.9 per cent of those diagnosed with malignant melanoma between 2002-2006 were still alive five years after their diagnosis. This is a slight increase on the 89.3 per cent five-year survival rate for those diagnosed between 1993-1996.  Survival is better in women than men.  This improved survival means there were almost 3,000 people living in Northern Ireland who had a diagnosis of cancer in the past 18 years (1,078 men and 1,779 women).

The total number of cases of the disease diagnosed in Northern Ireland has increased from 182 in 1993 to 296 in 2011. Number of cases diagnosed among men more than doubled from 58 in 1993 to 126 in 2011. Despite this, women still account for the majority of cases diagnosed. Of the 296 cases identified in 2011, 57 per cent were in women and 43 per cent were in men.

Dr Anna Gavin, Director of Queen’s Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, says today’s report from Cancer Research UK is a timely reminder of the importance of staying safe in the sun. She said: “Northern Ireland’s survival rates for malignant melanoma are among the best in Europe. That is largely due to improvements in treatment, awareness of symptoms and early diagnosis.

“Skin cancer is one of the fastest rising cancers in the UK, and Northern Ireland is no exception. This is likely due to sunbathing habits and the increase in the availability of cheap package holidays. But as the last few weeks have shown, you don’t have to go abroad to be exposed to the sun’s harmful rays. Even on a cloudy day here in Northern Ireland, the sun will cause damage to the skin, and that damage can lead to cancer.

“People can reduce their risk of developing malignant melanoma by following this advice: seek the shade between 11am-3pm when the sun is at its strongest; cover-up with a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses; and always wear sun cream with a minimum SPF 15.

“Malignant melanoma is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. But early diagnosis is crucial. That’s why it is important to get to know your skin, and if you notice anything unusual get it checked by your GP. Things to look out for are a change to a mole or a blemish the size of the blunt end of a pencil, or bigger, that has changed in colour, size or texture, or is bleeding or itching.

“More and more people in Northern Ireland are surviving skin cancer, but it is important that we continue to work together to develop better treatments for the one person in ten  - that’s around 50 people per year - who do not survive the disease. Our colleagues in Queen’s Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, are at the centre of this work, with 300 researchers from around the world developing innovative cancer diagnosis and treatments and pioneering advances in patient care.”

For more information on Queen’s Northern Ireland Cancer Registry visit http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr

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