Melanoma

Melanoma is an abnormal growth of the cells of the skin that produce melanin (colour). It is the least common but most serious of all of the skin cancers. There are many risk factors (Public Health Agency of Canada) for melanoma; however, the most common risk is exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds.

Rates of melanoma are too low to provide reliable estimates by age or by geographic area below the Health Unit level. Also, melanoma mortality rates are too low to be reliably reported.

• by geographic area
• by sex

Melanoma by geographic area

Key findings:

• In the Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU) area, there were 31 new cases of melanoma in 2009.
• In 2009, the rate of melanoma in the SDHU area was 12 new cases per 100,000 population. Due to small numbers, the rates reported for the SDHU area should be interpreted with caution.
• Melanoma rates were similar in the SDHU area, northeastern Ontario and Ontario.
• Between 2000 and 2009, melanoma rates remained stable.

Notes:

• Rates are age-standardized using the 1991 Canadian population.
• Data Source: Ontario Cancer Registry and Population Estimates, Cancer Care Ontario, SEER*Stat, Oct. 2012 release.

Figure: Annual age-standardized incidence rate, melanoma, by geographic area, 2000–2009

Table: Annual age-standardized incidence rate, melanoma, by geographic area, 2000–2009

Geographic Area	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
SDHU	12.1	11	14.8	14.3	16.3	11.8	18.1	16.6	10.1	12.1
Northeast Ontario	11.7	9.9	12.4	12.6	14.6	14	16.9	14.3	12.9	12.3
Ontario	13.4	13.3	13	13.7	13.6	14.2	15.2	15.1	15.3	15.8

Table: Annual number of cases, melanoma, by geographic area, 2000–2009

Geographic Area	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
SDHU	27	26	34	35	38	31	46	42	28	31
Northeast Ontario	78	70	83	89	105	99	126	110	100	98
Ontario	1690	1747	1730	1852	1911	2030	2230	2287	2342	2485

Melanoma by sex

Key findings:

• In 2009, there were 15 males and 16 females diagnosed with melanoma in the SDHU area.
• In the SDHU area, the rate of melanoma in 2009 was 12 new cases per 100,000 males and 13 new cases per 100,000 females. Due to small numbers, the rates reported should be interpreted with caution.
• The rate of melanoma among males and females has generally been similar.
• Between 2000 and 2009, melanoma rates have remained relatively stable over the time period.

Notes:

• Rates are age-standardized using the 1991 Canadian population.
• Data Source: Ontario Cancer Registry and Population Estimates, Cancer Care Ontario, SEER*Stat, Oct. 2012 release.

Figure: Annual age-standardized incidence rates, melanoma, by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU) area, 2000–2009

Table: Annual age-standardized incidence rates, melanoma, by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU) area, 2000–2009

Sex	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Both	12.1	11	14.8	14.3	16.3	11.8	18.1	16.6	10.1	12.1
Males	8.4	15.1	19.8	18.8	12.1	14.2	24.7	17.9	10.8	12
Females	15.3	8.2	11.6	10.6	20.2	9.9	12.6	15.5	9.6	12.6

Table: Annual number of cases, melanoma, by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU) area, 2000–2009

Sex	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Both	27	26	34	35	38	31	46	42	28	31
Males	9	17	20	21	14	17	29	22	14	15
Females	18	9	14	14	24	14	17	20	14	16

 

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This item was last modified on March 26, 2018