Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and in Europe. Skin tumors can be either melanoma or non-melanoma. Non-melanoma cancers can then be further split into basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. While non-melanoma skin cancers are more common, melanomas are more deadly. Over 100 thousand
that same year. Northern European countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway are among
. Although skin cancer can occur in people of all skin types, those with lighter skin color are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer. Other factors that can increase probability include long-term exposure to UV rays, history of sunburns, age, and genetics.
Current state in Europe
The
incidence across the whole EU in 2020 was around 26 and 20 per 100,000 for men and women, respectively. Among men, the Netherlands had the highest incidence in the EU of melanoma skin cancer diagnosed that year, at over 54.2 per 100,000 population. Denmark had the highest rate for women at approximately 51 per 100,000. Therefore, these two countries had
diagnosis rates over 110 percent higher than the EU’s average. Sweden and Finland both also had very high rates compared to the EU as a whole. In Denmark, over five thousand euros per capita are spent annually
directly on melanoma healthcare. Other European countries that have high per capita expenditures include Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. In the Summer of 2023, it was announced that the Netherlands was going to provide free sunscreen to its population in public places in an effort to halt rising cases of skin cancer.
Mortality and survival
The highest
mortality rates among EU countries, compared to the overall average, in 2020 were registered in Slovakia, Denmark, and Slovenia. Despite the high prevalence of skin cancer in Europe, survival rates can be good, especially if the cancer is caught at an early stage. For example, in England, over 95 percent of people diagnosed with stage one melanoma
would live for at least five years post-diagnosis as of 2020. In contrast, only around 40 percent survived for five years after a stage four diagnosis. Similarly, high five-year survival rates existed in
Sweden and
Norway. The survival prospects after being diagnosed with melanoma in Europe have significantly increased compared to just a few decades ago.
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