U.S. melanoma cases rise 250% among children, young adults

Melanoma diagnoses involving children and young adults have climbed by 250% since the 1970s, with two-thirds of all diagnosed cases in 2011 involving young women, according to a report to be presented to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The report found that in 2011, 65% of melanoma cases involved women and 20% of the diagnoses were for noninvasive and early-stage melanoma. Researchers noted melanoma survival rates have gone up to 95% in 2011 compared with 80% in the mid-to-late 1970s. HealthDay News