Is the incidence of malignant melanoma decreasing in young Australians?

Abstract

Recent reports have detected a decrease in the incidence of malignant melanoma (MM) in young Australian women, but an increase in older Australians. The incidence rates were calculated for the entire population and no adjustments were made to take into account the change in the racial composition of the Australian population. In the past 25 years there has been an influx of immigrants from Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East who are at low risk for MM. The migrants are relatively young and there are more Asian women than men. The large increase in the percentage of the population that has a low risk for MM may be an important reason why the incidence has fallen in some population groups.