melanoma in canada: stats, impact and resources

it’s estimated that roughly 11,300 people – 6,500 males and 4,800 females – will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2024, and each year, roughly 1,300 canadians die due to the disease.

according to melanoma canada , this type of cancer is “a very serious and potentially deadly form of skin cancer and is one of the few cancers with incidence rates on the rise.”

what is melanoma?

• a new mole that pops up out of nowhere
• an older mole that begins to change in shape, size, or colour
• an existing mole that starts to itch, ooze, or bleed

• asymmetry: asymmetrical moles are more likely to be melanoma.
• border: when the border of a mole or spot is ragged, blurred, or uneven, it could be a sign of melanoma.
• colour: moles with various shades could be melanoma. the shades could be black, brown, tan, white, gray, red, pink, blue, or skin-coloured.
• diameter: if moles are beginning to grow bigger, it could be a sign they are cancerous.
• evolution: if moles change in colour or size over time, they may be melanoma.

there are four main types of melanomas : superficial spreading, nodular, lentigo maligna, and acral lentiginous.

• flat and thin moles or growths on the skin
• uneven borders
• it can be red, blue, black, brown, grey, or white
• in some cases, it starts within an already-existing mole on the skin

superficial spreading melanoma is often found on the torso, arms, and legs. that said, in males, it is more likely to appear on the back, and in females, the legs. this type accounts for approximately 70 per cent of all melanomas .

nodular melanoma , the second-most common type, grows into the skin and spreads quicker than other forms of the disease. the growth is often raised and can resemble a mushroom with a stem.

lentigo maligna melanoma generally develops in older adults and appears as a large, flat tan or brown patch on the skin. the border of the patch is uneven, and as it grows, it darkens to a darker brown or black shade. these types of growths are often found on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, and arms. roughly 10 to 15 per cent of all melanomas are lentigo maligna.

the last type, acral lentiginous melanoma , is most common in those with darker skin tones and is not related to sun exposure. the spots appear flat and small and look like dark brown or black discolouration on the skin. it is most commonly found on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or beneath the nails, making it difficult to diagnose. less than 5 per cent of all melanomas are considered acral lentiginous melanoma.

• mucosal lentiginous: this type develops on the moist lining of organs or mucous membranes, such as the mouth, throat, rectum, anal canal, vagina, and nasal passages. it spreads quickly.
• intraocular: this type of melanoma is considered the most common type of eye cancer.
• desmoplastic: desmoplastic melanoma starts in connective tissue surrounding mucosa. it develops as a skin-coloured lump and grows down into the skin. it is most commonly found on the head, neck, upper back, or other areas that have mucosa.

melanoma is most commonly caused by uv radiation , and 85 per cent of all cases are caused by exposure from the sun or artificial sun lamps and tanning beds. other risk factors include childhood sunburn, family history, and age. people who work outdoors also have an increased risk of developing melanoma by roughly 2.5 to 3.5 times.

there are 10 stages of melanoma :

• 1a
• 1b
• 2a
• 2b
• 2c
• 3a
• 3b
• 3c
• 3d
• 4

• surgery to remove the tumour or mole and surrounding tissue or lymph nodes if it has spread
• chemotherapy
• palliative therapy to improve a person’s quality of life
• targeted therapy using cancer drugs
• oncolytic virus therapy
• radiation

current melanoma statistics in canada

melanoma accounts for roughly 3.8 per cent and 3.3 per cent of all new cancer cases in males and females, respectively. in terms of deaths caused by cancer, melanoma is the cause of 1.9 per cent and 1.2 per cent of all cancer deaths in males and females, respectively.

• 1a: 99 per cent
• 1b: 97 per cent
• 2a: 94 per cent
• 2b: 87 per cent
• 2c: 82 per cent
• 3a: 93 per cent
• 3b: 83 per cent
• 3c: 69 per cent
• 3d: 32 per cent
• 4: 50 per cent

according to the canadian cancer society , roughly 11,300 canadians will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2024. of those, 6,500 will be found in males and 4,800 in females. fatalities caused by melanoma are expected to reach 1,300, with 850 being males and 440 being females. between 2023 and 2024, cases of melanoma have risen by roughly 17 per cent.

in canada, the most cases of melanoma are found in british columbia at 44.8 per cent. the remaining provinces and their melanoma incidence rates include:

• alberta: 6.9 per cent
• manitoba: 3.5 per cent
• new brunswick: 3.5 per cent
• ontario: 24.1 per cent
• quebec: 13.8 per cent
• saskatchewan: 3.5 per cent

while education, work status, and marital status aren’t known to play a role in the development of melanoma, cases differ in these areas. those who have completed college have the most cases at 27.6 per cent, and those on disability or taking a leave of absence from their place of employment also account for the highest number of melanoma cases at 34.5 per cent. those in couples are also found to account for more melanoma cases, with 89.7 per cent of all cases occurring in people who are married.

impact of melanoma on canadian society

research shows that the cost of melanoma in canada is high, with one study finding that in 2004, roughly $532 million was spent on skin cancer care.

impact of melanoma on patients’ emotional and social wellbeing

according to one study that looked at a sample size of people who had been diagnosed with melanoma, close to half experienced a change in their sense of self because of their illness due to the way others perceived them as cancer patients.

• anxiety at a rate of 41 per cent
• depression at a rate of 38 per cent
• increased stress at a rate of 34 per cent
• feelings of loss of control at 31 per cent
• increased anger or sadness at 24 per cent
• increased emotional sensitivity at 21 per cent

resources available for melanoma in canada

melanoma canada offers various options for people, including:

• phone and email support
• cancer coaching
• patient information sessions
• peer-to-peer support programs
• melanoma and skin cancer support groups
• facebook support groups
• patient stories

• save your skin foundation
• canadian skin cancer foundation
• cancer care ontario
• canadian cancer society

the future of melanoma in canada

various apps have been developed, such as the miiskin app, that can track mole changes to help people catch the disease early for a better overall outcome. better screening practices and treatments are also in the works in canada to help reduce the risk of death by melanoma in those diagnosed with advanced disease.

while melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, with proper tracking, screening, and new therapies, the prognosis for those who do develop the disease can improve in canada.

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