{"id":2352,"date":"2022-05-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdbc2.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/the-rising-prevalence-of-skin-cancer-in-canada\/"},"modified":"2025-04-17T10:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T15:00:00","slug":"the-rising-prevalence-of-skin-cancer-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/blog\/the-rising-prevalence-of-skin-cancer-in-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rising Prevalence of Skin Cancer in Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types in Canada, accounting for an estimated\u00a0one-third<\/a>\u00a0of new cancer cases diagnosed each year.<\/p>\n

Skin cancer can be classified as melanoma and non-melanoma \u2013 non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) can also be further separated as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) based on the type of cell in which the cancer originates. Melanoma is a cancer that develops in the skin\u2019s melanocytes, or the skin cells located near the bottom layer of the epidermis that produce melanin.<\/p>\n

Most skin cancers detected in Canada are non-melanoma and typically occur on areas that receive frequent sun exposure, including the face, neck, and hands. Melanoma accounts for approximately 5 percent of skin cancer diagnoses and can develop almost anywhere on the body, even in areas that receive little to no sun.<\/p>\n

As\u00a0incident rates of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers rise<\/a>, so do mortality rates, with numbers increasing\u00a0five-fold<\/a>\u00a0in some provinces in recent years.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s now estimated that\u00a01 in 42<\/a>\u00a0men and 1 in 56 women will develop melanoma during their lifetime, and 1 in 219 men and 1 in 402 women will die of it.<\/p>\n

Early detection is key \u2013 when caught early, melanoma can be treated successfully with survival rates between 40-97 percent, however once metastasis occurs, survival rates drop substantially to 15-20 percent.<\/p>\n

Family physicians are often the first line of defense in detecting skin cancer \u2013 ensuring you and your patients know what to look for can save lives.<\/p>\n

Risk factors for developing skin cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Though there is no single cause of skin cancer,\u00a0approximately 90 percent of skin cancers<\/a>\u00a0are caused by UV rays. Other factors that enhance risk include:<\/p>\n