Deadly skin cancer rates double across U.S. in last 30 years: CDC

Rates of melanomas, or deadly skin cancers, have doubled in the United States since the early 1980s, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Tuesday.

"Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and it's on the rise," CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a statement.

According to the CDC's latest Vital Signs report, melanoma rates increased from 11.2 per 100,000 in 1982 to 22.7 per 100,000 in 2011.

Overall, more than 65,000 melanoma skin cancers were diagnosed in 2011. And without additional community prevention efforts, melanoma will continue to increase over the next 15 years, with 112,000 new cases projected in 2030.

The report also found that melanoma is responsible for more than 9,000 skin cancer deaths each year.

The annual cost of treating new melanoma cases is projected to nearly triple from 457 million U.S. dollars in 2011 to 1.6 billion dollars in 2030.

The report claims that comprehensive skin cancer prevention programs such mass media campaigns could prevent an estimated 230, 000 melanoma skin cancers and save 2.7 billion dollars in treatment costs by 2030.

The CDC urged people to protect their skin with protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, broad-spectrum sunscreen, and seek shade outdoors.

"Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat and clothes that cover your skin. Find some shade if you're outside, especially in the middle of the day when the dangerous rays from the sun are most intense, and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen," Frieden said. Endite