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Health Indicator Report of Incidence of Melanoma of the Skin

Cancer of the skin is by far the most common of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths. Most melanoma of the skin is caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Whites have age-adjusted incidence rates that are more than 15 times higher than Blacks. People with light complexions have the highest risk of melanoma of the skin.

Notes

Data for Whites and Blacks includes Hispanics. Hispanic ethnicity includes all races. Incidence rates (cases per 100,000 population per year) are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population (19 age groups: <1, 1-4, 5-9, ..., 80-84, 85+). Rates are for invasive cancer only (except for bladder cancer which is invasive and in situ) or unless otherwise specified. **Rates/counts are suppressed if fewer than 5 cases were reported in the specified category.

Data Sources

  • NJ State Cancer Registry, Nov 16, 2020 Analytic File, using NCI SEER*Stat ver. 8.3.9, [https://seer.cancer.gov/seerstat/]
  • NJ population estimates as calculated by the NCI's SEER Program, released February 2021, [https://www.seer.cancer.gov/popdata/download.html]

Definition

Incidence rate of invasive melanoma of the skin for a defined population in a specified time interval. Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Standard Population. Rates are per 100,000 population.

Numerator

Number of new cases of melanoma of the skin among a defined population in a specified time interval.

Denominator

Defined population in a specified time interval.

How Are We Doing?

During 2018, 1,309 men and 965 women in New Jersey were diagnosed with melanoma of the skin. Between 1990 and 2018, age-adjusted incidence rates for melanoma of the skin increased from 14.4 to 26.5 cases per 100,000 for males and from 10.2 cases to 16.8 cases per 100,000 in females. During the same interval, age-adjusted incidence rates increased in Whites from 13.1 to 24.6 per 100,000. The lifetime risk of developing melanoma of the skin is 1 in 36 for men and 1 in 56 for women.

What Is Being Done?

A Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan was developed by the Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in New Jersey which aims to reduce the incidence, illness and death due to cancer among New Jersey residents. [https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ncccp/ccc_plans.htm]

Available Services

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has many programs and partnerships related to cancer data and information, cancer resources and cancer prevention. Cancer Epidemiology Services: [https://nj.gov/health/ces/] Interactive New Jersey cancer incidence and mortality data, as well as numerous publications, are available through the NJDOH website for cancer statistics and mapping. [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/cancer-researchers/cancer-data/index.shtml] Office of Cancer Control and Prevention: [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/occp.shtml] NJ Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED): [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/njceed.shtml] NJ Commission on Cancer Research: [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/cancer-researchers/njccr.shtml]
Page Content Updated On 10/18/2021, Published on 12/03/2021
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 13:00:11 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

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