Malignant Melanoma
8.48 The South West region has the highest incidence and mortality of malignant melanoma of any area of the UK. Both incidence and mortality rates are rising. However survival rates are higher than average for England. The South West is one of the sunniest parts of the UK, and approximately a quarter of its population are beyond retirement age. People who like the sun are believed to preferentially retire to coastal parts of the South West region. This implies that there is a concentration of elderly people with a long history of UV exposure along the South West coast. Yet to be published research by the South West Public Health Observatory examining the geographic distribution of melanoma cases has shown that the incidence of melanoma is significantly higher on the South West coast, particularly in more rural regions. Melanoma affects a younger age group than most cancers, and deaths from melanoma (see table) are almost entirely preventable. Prevention is possible either by taking precautions against exposure to excess UV, or by reporting suspicious skin lesions early. Public education is a key factor in encouraging both.