A comprehensive study examining long-term data on melanoma offers significant findings regarding the trends in melanoma cases among men and women.
The occurrence of melanoma varies notably between genders, particularly concerning the age groups affected and the specific areas of the body impacted. While melanoma rates have been rising for both men and women, the patterns differ depending on the site of the melanoma. A recent study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology by Elsevier explores these trends through an extensive analysis of melanoma incidence data, focusing on age, gender, and anatomical location.
David C. Whiteman, MBBS, PhD, who leads the research at the Cancer Control Group of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, states, “It has been generally noted in various populations that melanomas tend to develop at different rates between men and women. We aimed to thoroughly investigate this observation and determine whether these differences are consistent over time or among generations by utilizing extensive data from population registries.”
The research team examined over 40 years’ worth of melanoma statistics from Queensland (Australia), the USA, and Scotland. These three regions were selected due to their historically diverse melanoma rates—high in Queensland, moderate in the USA, and low in Scotland. The analysis revealed that across all three areas, melanoma incidence has increased over time, particularly among women. In all populations, women typically develop melanoma on their limbs, while men often have lesions on the trunk, head, and neck. As age increases, both men and women show rising occurrences of melanoma in the head and neck regions.
The findings indicate that in nearly all the populations studied, women experience higher melanoma rates than men in their younger years (up to approximately 45 years old). However, as individuals reach older ages (65 years and above), men show significantly higher rates. Additionally, these gender-based trends demonstrate complex incidence patterns across different body sites that correlate with age. Women’s higher occurrence of lower limb melanomas persists into older adulthood. Similarly, the upper limbs show greater melanoma rates in women from youth until middle age (45-64 years), after which men surpass women. Conversely, on the head, neck, and trunk, men tend to have higher melanoma incidences early in life. Overall, the increase in melanoma rates with age is observed to be much more pronounced in men than in women.
This study highlights the fact that men and women experience melanoma differently, likely influenced by varying patterns of sun exposure. There also seem to be inherent biological differences affecting how melanomas develop at various body locations between genders. Gaining insight into these biological distinctions could reveal crucial information about the origins of this complex cancer.
Dr. Whiteman concludes, “Invasive melanomas are serious cancers with rapidly rising rates of occurrence. We must understand the origins and developments of these cancers to enhance preventative measures. Research like this suggests that we may need gender-specific approaches in our prevention strategies to effectively combat this illness.”