Scots skin cancer cases reach record high with four people diagnosed every day

The number of Scots with skin cancer has reached an all-time high.About four people are diagnosed with melanoma each day in Scotland and the numbers are predicted to soar to a record of about 1800 cases this year.A survey by a cancer charity found there were 1537 new instances of melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer – diagnosed in 2021 compared with 1207 in 2011.Last night Dr Claire Knight, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, warned: “Getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple the risk of developing skin cancer, compared to never being burnt.” The biggest rise is in Scots adults aged 70 to 79, with an increase of 32 per cent over the past decade.The charity said most cases are preventable, with about eight in 10 caused by too much UV radiation.UV from the sun and sunbeds can damage DNA in skin cells and cause skin cancer.Younger people are more aware of the link between the sun and skin cancer than those who are older, who may have taken advantage of the cheap package holiday boom from the 1960s onwards, it said.

Other factors driving up cases include a growing and ageing ­population and improved awareness of the symptoms of skin cancer.Figures show, however, that more people are surviving melanoma, with deaths expected to continue to fall.Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone