ABSTRACT
EPIDEMIOLOGY Melanoma is one of the most rapidly increasing major cancers in the world. In all countries where white skin predominates, incidence has been increasing by 3-8% each year from the early 1960s until 1995.* Increases have been particularly obvious in Scotland, New Zealand and the Australian populations. In non-white populations the increases have generally been small. Mortality has increased generally in the same period but at a much lower rate than these incidence rises. Melanoma now comprises approximately 1.2% of all new cancers worldwide and between 7-8% of new cancers in men and women in developed countries. In Australia where the incidence of melanoma is the highest in the world, it is now the third most common cancer overall and the commonest cancer in the heavily sun exposed state of Queensland. Worldwide, more than 92, 000 new cases of melanoma were reported in 1985. Melanoma is the major cause of death in young adult populations, i.e. between 20 and 50, in higher sun exposure countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
