Experts discover the parts of the body men and women are most likely to get skin cancer – the difference is striking

Parts of the body most likely to be susceptible to skin cancer vary between men and women, new research has found, amid predictions that cases of the deadly disease will skyrocket this year. 

According to a study by Cancer Research UK, the majority of melanomas—a type of skin cancer that is usually caused by too much sun exposure—in men are found on the torso, including the back, chest and stomach. 

This is the equivalent of around 3,700 cases a year. 

Conversely, women most commonly develop the deadly lesions on the legs, from the hips to the ankles, accounting for 3,200 cases every year. 

This was the least common place for men to get melanoma, the research, based on data from 2018 to 2021, found. 

And only 22 per cent of women with the disease develop it on the torso—the second least common part of the body. 

Meanwhile, men were almost twice as likely as women to have been diagnosed with melanoma on their head or neck (24 per cent versus 13 per cent). 

Researchers have suggested one reason behind this phenomenon is due to the different areas of the body men and women are likely to expose as the weather gets warmer. 

The charity suggested that the shapes of our bodies could also be to blame for the ‘stark difference’.

‘Men’s torsos are typically bigger than women’s, and women’s legs take up a larger proportion of their body surface area. Hair, which can differ based on style or genetics, might contribute too,’ according to a report on the study published by the charity.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, accounting for four out of five deaths. 

Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, warned: ‘Getting sunburned just once every couple of years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer, compared with never being burned.’

The study found that an alarming 87 per cent of melanoma cases, the equivalent of  17,100 in the UK each year, are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, either directly from the sun or sun beds—meaning they could be avoided. 

This is because increased UV exposure can damage the DNA in skin cells, triggering mutations that become cancerous. From here, the cancer can spread to the blood vessels beneath the skin, getting into the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body. 

Last year, rates of the cancer reached a record high in the UK, with new diagnoses increasing by almost a third in just a decade, according to Cancer Research UK.

Now, experts are warning that melanoma cases are on the rise again—with rates set to surge faster in men than women. 

Michelle Mitchell, CEO at Cancer Research, said: ‘The growing number of people diagnosed with melanoma is concerning, especially when we can see that rates are rising faster in men.

‘If you notice anything different on your skin, like a new mole, a mole that’s changed in size, shape, or colour, or any patch of skin that looks out of the ordinary—don’t ignore it, speak to your GP’, she added. 

Most melanomas—the rarest but most deadly form of skin cancer that is most likely to spread—present as moles that have uneven edges. 

When diagnosis melanoma, dermatologists look out for asymmetry, border, colour diameter and evolving, known as the ABCDEs. 

With warmer weather fast approaching, research suggests that 21,300 cases of the disease could be expected this year. 

The UK has also seen a seven per cent rise in young people, aged 25-49, as experts urge people to contact their GP at the first warning sign of skin cancer. 

‘We want to beat skin cancer for everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from’, Ms Mitchell explained, ‘but, early diagnosis is key and could make all the difference.’ 

The charity is now urging people to take simple steps to stay safe from UV rays—which can cause significant damage even when it’s cloudy or cool. 

‘Try to stick to the safe between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest, wear clothes that help cover up your skin, with a hat and sunglasses, and use sunscreen with at least SPF30 and 4 or 5 stars’, Ms Osgun advised. 

Professor Peter Johnson, the national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, added: ‘Prevention is by far the best plan with skin cancer, so avoid the sun when it is at its hottest and ensure you use sunscreen. 

‘For skin cancer, as for any cancer, it is vital that you are seen and diagnosed as early as possible, so people should come forward if they are concerned about symptoms’, he added.

‘Getting checked saves lives’. 

Currently around 15,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with melanoma each year—the UK’s fifth most common cancer—with the incidence rate rising faster than any other common cancer. 

How the cancer is treated depends on whether the cancer has spread—with only 27 per cent of patients diagnosed at stage four surviving beyond five years. 

Surgery is the main treatment for the disease, especially if it is found early.  

This comes as patients with the deadliest type of skin cancer are set to be given fast-tracked access to a revolutionary cancer vaccine on the NHS. 

The needle-free injection is custom-built for patients to stop their melanoma returning—which experts believe will herald a new era in fighting the disease. 

It works by boosting the immune system’s response, helping it to ‘attack’ proteins that are specific to melanoma tumours, preventing them from returning. 

Currently, around half of patients diagnosed with melanoma respond to immunotherapy. 

But, those who don’t are at a higher risk of their cancer getting worse. 

‘Improvements in skin cancer survival rates highlight the remarkable progress driven by our research,’ Ms Mitchell explained. ‘But the growing number of people diagnosed with melanoma is still concerning.’