Dangerous skin cancer is increasing sharply in Sweden

Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in Sweden. The new research also shows that the most dangerous variant increases the most - namely, repeated cases of malignant melanoma.

- What we see with this study is that those who have a melanoma also get more skin cancer tumors more often than before, says Hildur Helgadottir at the Karolinska Institute.

The Swedes who got the cancer form malignant melanoma 1960-1969 were almost never affected by a further round of the same cancer. In contrast, the Swedes who had malignant melanoma in 2000-2009 were affected ten times more often than the Swedes in the 1960s by having the same cancer again within ten years.

- There are big differences when compared to how we exposed ourselves to the sun in the peasant community. Then we were very much out and in the spring it became a more gradual exposure. People also had a little more clothes on, says Hildur Helgadottir.

- Now we expose the skin to other changes. In the middle of winter, many with unprepared skin go to Thailand and sunbathe several hours a day.

Despite increased knowledge that sunbathing can cause skin cancer, attitudes among Swedes have not changed, says Hilda Helgadottir. We still want to spend many hours of our vacation days lying in the sun.

- It's good to be outdoors but it's about protecting yourself, she continues.

Martin Bergö is a professor of molecular medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg and has read the new study.

- This is a good and very important study. Mortality is significantly greater the second time you have malignant melanoma. The really interesting thing about the new figures is how much it is increasing to get recurrent melanoma, says Martin Bergö.

- At the same time, this is incredibly surprising since we all know the risk factor of sunbathing. We have known for a long time that UV radiation and sunlight increase the risk of skin cancer, he continues.

The fact that the Swedes increased their sunbathing and trips abroad to the sun is a known factor. But Martin Bergö points out that we are also discovering more skin cancers today than before.

In addition, research should be conducted on whether there may be other factors that play a role, he says. For example, animal studies have shown that dietary supplements with antioxidants can increase the spread of skin cancer in rats, which could be a factor behind the increase. "We need to know more about the relationship with diet," he says.

But basically, the Swedes have to change their attitude to sunbathing, says Martin Berg:

- You know that it helps to protect yourself from the sun. Where you have managed to get people to use sunscreen, skin cancer has decreased. The best thing is to stay away from the sun and protect yourself with clothes, sun hat and more.