Risk of melanoma in over-65s ‘has risen significantly’

The risk of developing malignant melanoma has risen significantly among over-65s in the last four decades, according to a new study.

Data from Cancer Research UK has indicated that people over 65 are now around seven times more likely to develop malignant melanoma compared to 40 years ago – a trend that is particularly pronounced among men.

On average, around 5,700 pensioners are now diagnosed with melanoma each year, compared with just 600 in the mid-1970s. This was attributed in part to the cheap package holiday boom that commenced in the 1960s, as well as the emergence of tanning as a fashionable aesthetic choice.

It was noted that getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple a person's risk of developing malignant melanoma, with even reddening of the skin being a sign of damage.

Professor Richard Marais, Cancer Research UK's skin cancer expert based in Manchester, said: "It's worrying to see melanoma rates increasing at such a fast pace, and across all age groups. It is very important for people to take care of their skin in the sun."

About 13,300 people are diagnosed with some form of melanoma in the UK each year, making it the fifth most common cancer overall.