Important Facts for Incidence of Melanoma of the Skin
Indicator Important Facts Report Options
Definition
Melanoma of the skin incidence refers to the number of persons newly diagnosed with melanoma of the skin during a specified time period. Measures include: 1) the number of newly diagnosed melanoma of the skin cases; and 2) age-adjusted incidence rate of melanoma of the skin (adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 US standard population). All rates are expressed per 100,000 persons.
Numerator
The number of cases of melanoma of the skin newly diagnosed in New Mexico residents within a specified time period. The data are based on the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program incidence site recode for melanoma (SEER Recode B: 25010; ICD-O-3 codes: primary site C440-C449, histologies 8720-8790; Invasive melanoma (behavior code 3).
Denominator
The estimated population of New Mexico residents within a specified time period.
Why Is This Important?
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that occurs in cells called melanocytes, which produce the skin pigment called melanin. Early detection is important, and treatment is often successful when the melanoma is found in its early stages. Each year, melanoma accounts for approximately 5% of all new cancer cases and 1.3% of all cancer deaths in the U.S, which represents approximately 99,780 cases and 7,650 deaths. The five-year survival rate is 94%. The primary risk factor for melanoma is excess exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds.
Other Objectives
CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking, Nationally Consistent Data and Measures (EPHT NCDM)
How Are We Doing?
New Mexico averaged 437 new cases of melanoma each year between 2016 and 2020. Since 2001, age-adjusted rates of melanoma in New Mexico have remained relatively stable. At the national level, age-adjusted rates of melanoma have increased 31% since 2001.
How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
Nationally, the rate of new cases of melanoma of the skin was 21.5 per 100,000 population. New Mexico has a lower incidence rate at 16.6 cases per 100,000 population. Nationally and in New Mexico, there are more new cases among whites than other racial/ethnic groups.
Evidence-based Practices
https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/cancer/evidence-based-resources
Health Program Information
https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/health/cancer/CancerConcernsWorkgroup.html