Five skin cancer warning signs to look out for as cases soar 'due to cheap holidays'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A boom in cheap package holidays since the 1960s could be linked to a rise in a serious skin cancer diagnosed in older adults, a charity has said.Cancer Research UK has confirmed melanoma skin cancer has reached record high cases among all age groups in the UK, reports Wales Online.According to the charity, 17,500 people are diagnosed each year in the UK, and they also focused their attention in a particular spike in cases among adults aged 55 and over.The case rates among older adults in this age range has risen by 195 per cent since the 1990s.

Between 1993 and 1995, 21.3 people aged 55 and older were diagnosed with melanoma out of every 100,000 - and this has risen to 62.9 per 100,000 in 2017 and 2019.The charity said: "The rise in rates in over-55s is likely to be linked to trends to have tanned skin and the cheap package holiday boom dating from the 1960s before people became more aware of skin cancer."Other factors could include a growing and ageing population, as well as more people checking their skin out when changes are noticed.

Cancer Research UK estimated across all age groups, melanoma skin cancer cases could increase by around 50 per cent over the next two decades.This would mean the UK would hit a record 26,500 cases a year by 2040 - but despite cases rising, the charity said deaths from the disease are decreasing.

They noted early diagnosis and treatment has meant more people than ever will survive the cancer.Cancer Research UK’s chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: "Our new analysis paints a mixed picture for cancer patients and the staff who care for them – while it’s promising that more people are seeking treatment for skin cancer earlier and survival is improving, it’s alarming that cases of the