Why Is This Important?

Cancer of the skin is by far the most common of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths. Most melanoma of the skin is caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Whites have age-adjusted incidence rates that are more than 15 times higher than Blacks. People with light complexions have the highest risk of melanoma of the skin.

Definition

Incidence rate of invasive melanoma of the skin for a defined population in a specified time interval. Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Standard Population. Rates are per 100,000 population.

Data Sources

• SEER*Stat, National Center Institute
  (https://www.seer.cancer.gov/seerstat)
• Bridged-race population estimates, National Cancer Institute
  (https://seer.cancer.gov/popdata/)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

During 2021, 1,504 men and 1,020 women in New Jersey were diagnosed with melanoma of the skin. Between 1990 and 2021, age-adjusted incidence rates for melanoma of the skin increased from 14.2 to 28.2 cases per 100,000 for males and from 10.0 cases to 16.5 cases per 100,000 in females. During the same interval, age-adjusted incidence rates increased in Whites from 13.1 to 25.3 per 100,000. Among non-Hispanic Whites, the lifetime risk of developing melanoma of the skin is 1 in 28 for men and 1 in 41 for women.

What Is Being Done?

A Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan was developed by the Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in New Jersey which aims to reduce the incidence, illness and death due to cancer among New Jersey residents. [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/occp.shtml]

Available Services

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has many programs and partnerships related to cancer data and information, cancer resources and cancer prevention. Cancer Epidemiology Services: [https://nj.gov/health/ces/] Interactive New Jersey cancer incidence and mortality data, as well as numerous publications, are available through the NJDOH website for cancer statistics and mapping. [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/cancer-researchers/cancer-data/index.shtml] Office of Cancer Control and Prevention: [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/occp.shtml] NJ Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED): [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/njceed.shtml] NJ Commission on Cancer Research: [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/cancer-researchers/njccr.shtml]

More Resources

More information on melanoma skin cancer is available from the NJ State Cancer Registry: [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/documents/briefs/melanoma_2016-2020_data_brief.pdf] and [https://nj.gov/health/ces/documents/reports/melanoma_report.pdf].