Incidence of skin cancers in Kerman province, Iran from march 2005 to march 2010: Trend analysis for the next 10 years

Background: Skin cancers are the most common human cancers. The most common skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Different factors are involved in development of skin cancers; the most notable one is exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In this study, the incidence of skin cancer was determined in Kerman province where is located in the desert region of Iran with ample sunlight, during a 5-year period. Method: All registered cases of skin cancers between March 2005 and March 2010 were retrieved from the Kerman Province Cancer Registry. For each patient, data about age, gender, location, pathologic type of cancer and site of skin involvement, were obtained. Incidence rates according to the age, sex and the location of the lesions were calculated. Trend analysis was done for the next 10 years. Result: During these 5 years, 1250 cases of skin cancer were recorded. The incidence in men was 1.2 times higher than women. The highest incidence was seen in individulas older than 80 years of age. Fifty percent of all skin cancers were located on the face. The highest incidence was observed in the city of Kerman with an annual incidence of 12.6 in 100,000. Trend analysis showed that the incidence of skin cancer in Kerman province would reach 23 in 100 000 people in 2019, which is 2.3 times higher than the incidence rate in 2009. Conclusion: Skin cancer is a public health concern in Kerman province in Iran. Considering the desert climate and the intensity of sunlight in most seasons, it is necessary to plan scientific practical interventions to prevent skin cancer and reduce its incidence.