Why Does Melanoma Disproportionately Affect Men?
Source: GQ, July 2024
While no one can control their health completely, at this point it would be naive to think that the odds of getting cancer are completely left up to chance. The World Health Organization estimates that between 30% and 50% of all cancer cases are preventable. There’s one type of cancer that’s largely avoidable, yet more than 5,000 men are expected to die of it this year—more than double the number of women who will.
We’re talking about melanoma. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer of the skin is by far the most common type of cancer in the U.S., and melanoma accounts for a large majority of skin cancer deaths. Ready for the good news? You can drastically lower your risk by having some very basic habits in place.
Why More Men Are Dying From Melanoma Than Women
If all you know about melanoma is that it’s a skin cancer and is one reason why dermatologists preach about SPF, here’s what else you need to know. Nandini Kulkarni, MD, a surgical oncologist with Inspira Health, explains that while it’s not always easy to pinpoint the cause of melanoma, gene mutation is at the root of cancer development. “UV rays can damage the DNA in skin cells, which can affect how cells grow and divide—a key component of cancer,” she says.