Men more likely to die from skin cancer

Men are 70 per cent more likely to die from malignant melanoma than women, according to a shocking report this week by Cancer Research UK. This is despite similar numbers of men and women being diagnosed with the disease every year. Although the research focused only on UK patients, comparable patterns have been observed in Malta. Figures from the Department of Dermatology and Venereology released in April showed that 57 males and 50 females had died from malignant melanoma in Malta from 1993 to 2011. Despite the higher death toll, 270 males had contracted the condition in the same period compared to 347 females. The higher mortality rates in males could be down to a combination of behavioural and biological factors, according to Dr Joseph Pace, president of the Maltese Association of Dermatology and Venereology. “It may be that men are less vain or less attentive to their health, so they will consult their doctor later than women,” Dr Pace said. “It may also be a hormonal thing; I don’t think anyone is quite sure yet. But fairly widespread research does suggest that men have a slightly worse prognosis than women.” Dr Pace pointed out that men are more prone than women to...