Not-so-sunny Scotland sees rise in skin cancer cases

Edinburgh, Scotland - The number of Scots diagnosed with and dying of skin cancer has increased significantly over the last 10 years.

According to recently released National Health Service (NHS) statistics, the incidence of malignant melanoma of the skin rose by 45 percent in men and 21 percent in women in Scotland between 1992 and 2002. Mortality rates were relatively low, with 151 deaths in 2004, but there have been 31 percent more male deaths from skin cancer since 1994.

Scotland's Health Minister said the statistics are an indication that even in less-than-sunny climates like Scotland's, sun exposure is a major risk factor that can lead to skin cancers including malignant melanoma, and that the NHS will be creating awareness campaigns highlighting the risk of unnecessary exposure to the sun.