Melanoma

In 2010, an estimated 68,130 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed and approximately 8700 patients died of the disease in the United States. 1 However, these figures for new cases may represent a substantial underestimation, because many superficial and in situ melanomas treated in the outpatient setting are not reported. The incidence of melanoma continues to increase dramatically. Melanoma is increasing in men more rapidly than any other malignancy, and in women more rapidly than any other malignancy except lung cancer. For someone born in the United States in the year 2005, the lifetime risk for developing melanoma may be as high as 1 in 55. Therefore, melanoma ranks second to adult leukemia in terms of loss of years of potential life, per death.