Melanoma Rising Fast in Young Women

Melanoma, the worst form of skin cancer, is rising rapidly in young women. That conclusion comes from a study using U.S. cancer data. Researchers looked at data from 1973 through 2004. They focused on people ages 15 through 39. Melanoma rates for young men and women both rose until 1980. Then the rate for men stopped rising. But among women it rose another 50% by 2004. That adds up to 13.9 cases per 100,000 young women each year. Researchers said young women may be spending more time in the sun or in tanning salons. The study was in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. The Washington Post reported on it July 11.