Checking the incidence and survival rate of skin cancer in Korea 'First' The number of patients increased 7 times over 20 years
Aug 05, 2024
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Professor Kwon Soon-hyo's team used data from the Central Cancer Registry to observe what changes occurred in the occurrence and survival of skin cancer patients in Korea from 1999 to 2019. Skin cancer is known to be more common in Westerners than in Asians. This is because more Asians than Westerners have melanin pigments that protect the skin from UV rays. However, as a result of the study, the number of skin cancer patients in Korea continued to increase, and it was confirmed that it has increased by about seven times over the past 20 years (1255 in 1999 → 8778 in 2019).
The incidence of skin cancer was high in the elderly population. According to statistics from the Central Cancer Registration Center in 2019, malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma had the highest number of patients over 70. By carcinoma, the number of patients with basal cell cancer has increased the most. It increased the most from 488 in 1999 to 3,908 in 2019, an eight-fold increase over 20 years. Squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, and malignant melanoma followed.
Professor Kwon Soon-hyo said, `Although the actual incidence of skin cancer has increased, the number of patients has increased rapidly due to the increasing interest in skin cancer, which has led to more diagnoses in the early stages of cancer", he explained.
Basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer, has a five-year relative survival rate of over 100%.
In the case of squamous cell carcinoma, 77.3% from 1996 to 2000 to 89.3% from 2015 to 2019, and in the case of malignant melanoma, 47.8% from 1996 to 2000 to 63.9% from 2015 to 2019. However, it was confirmed that in the case of malignant melanoma, the 5-year relative survival rate was only 63.9% and in the case of angiosarcoma, only 24.7%.
This study is significant in that it is the first study to study the incidence and survival rate of skin cancer in Korea using data from the Central Cancer Registry. This is the first study to identify domestic skin cancer patients who vaguely thought the number was only increasing with objective statistical data.
The results of the study were published in November 2023 in the international journal of dermatology 'Japanese Dermatological Association: Journal of Dermatology'.
Professor Kwon Soon-hyo said "The results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for establishing domestic treatment guidelines for the treatment and prevention of skin cancer in the future."
It is important to detect skin cancer early on. Surgery is the primary treatment for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are the most common skin cancers. Therefore, the earlier it is detected, the smaller the scope of surgery and the less likely it is to cause functional or cosmetic problems. The results of this study may also seem to be rapidly increasing in the number of skin cancer patients in Korea, but in reality, it can be interpreted as the result of early detection of skin cancer through continuous public relations activities such as the Korean Academy of Dermatology and the Korean Academy of Dermatology. As a result, the survival rate of skin cancer has also steadily increased.
Professor Kwon Soon-hyo said, `Considering that skin cancer usually occurs in the elderly face, if you see something strange or a wound that does not heal on your parents' face, you should visit a dermatologist early," he stressed.
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