Malignant melanoma of the skin in Upstate New York: recent trends and characteristics.

Some descriptive epidemiologic characteristics, and recent trends in incidence rates, were analyzed for 2,818 malignant melanomas of the skin diagnosed among residents of Upstate New York (ie, New York State exclusive of New York City) in 1975-1979 and reported to the population-based New York State Cancer Registry. For later clinical-stage melanomas, higher incidence rates among males vs females indicate the need for earlier detection among males. Higher total melanoma incidence rates in younger (less than or equal to 44 years) females vs males were due to higher rates for clinical-stage 1 melanomas, indicating the need for primary prevention. For both males and females, the proportion of cases diagnosed at early clinical stage (ie, stage 1) was lower in single vs married cases, although differences were not statistically significant. The proportion of clinical stage 1 melanomas was significantly lower among widowed vs married women, indicating another target group for secondary prevention. Incidence rates and median household income by county were significantly associated (rank-order correlation test) for males aged 55-64 and females age 65 + years. Recent increases (from 1975 to 1979) in melanoma incidence rates were greater for clinical stage 1 (vs stages 2-3) melanomas and for males vs females; rates for stage 1 melanomas of the trunk in males increased 74.5% over the period (1975 to 1979). Such descriptive data should be useful in planning public education and cancer screening programs.