Men should remember to visit their GP if they have any concerns about moles
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The number of men dying from the deadliest form of skin cancer has doubled over the past three decades
Figures from Cancer Research UK show a huge rise in deaths from malignant melanoma, particularly in elderly men.
In the late 1970’s fewer than 400 men died from melanoma a year, but that figure has now risen to over 1,100. The death rates in women have also risen, from 1.5 to 2.2 per 100,000.
The figures also showed that though more women are diagnosed, more men die from the disease. This could be a sign that women visit their doctor about moles that are worrying them, whereas men ignore the symptoms of the disease.
In men over 65 deaths have risen from 4.5 per 100,000 to 15.2 per 100,000 over the past 30 years.
Caroline Cerny from Cancer Research UK, warned men need to learn to look after their skin, ‘Too often men leave it up to their partners or mothers to remind them to use sunscreen or cover up with a shirt and hat, and even to visit the doctor about a worrying mole. It’s crucial that people go to their doctor as soon as they notice any unusual changes to their skin or moles - the earlier the cancer is diagnosed the easier it will be to treat.’.
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