Rate of melanoma deaths in Ireland higher than in Spain and Italy

Ireland is suffering from a higher death rate than Spain from the deadly skin cancer melanoma it has been revealed.

A report from the National Cancer Registry outlines how the average number of deaths from the sun-related cancer in Ireland is 159, a mortality rate of 3.1 per 100,000. The report stated that the mortality rate in Ireland was higher than that of holiday destinations such as Spain and Italy. Around 11,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Ireland each year, though the majority of these are not as serious as melanoma.

There were just under 1,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed here between 2011 and 2015, with 518 women contracting melanoma and 469 suffering from the disease. The fact that over 75 per cent of Irish peopel have 'Celtic skin type' means that they freckle and burn more easily, thus carrying a higher risk of getting skin cancer.

The National Cancer Registry advised people to seek shade when the sun becomes very strong and use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30.