Key facts

What is melanoma?

• Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer
  
  
• Melanoma can spread rapidly and can be life-threatening if left untreated
  
  

How common is melanoma?

• New Zealand and Australia have the highest melanoma incidence rates in the world
  
  
• Melanoma is the fourth most common cancer in New Zealand, with about 2000 cases a year
  
  
• In 2005 269 people died from melanoma in New Zealand - 156 men and 113 women
  
  
• 70% of melanoma cases occur in those 50 years and older
  
  
• Melanoma is reasonably common in younger age groups. Significant numbers of men and women between the ages of 25 and 39 get melanoma. 30% of cases occur in those younger than 50 years.
  
  
• Melanoma rarely occurs in children
  
  
• Although incidence rates are about the same in men and women, death rates are higher among men and appear to be increasing
  
  
• Melanoma among Māori is about 1/10 the rate of NZ Europeans

Click here for a full article summarising the facts about melanoma: