In 2022, according to provisional figures from the Dutch Cancer Registry (NKR), skin cancer will be diagnosed in 23,300 new patients. That is an increase compared to 2021. Basal cell carcinoma is not included in this.
Apart from the first corona year, 2020, more cancer diagnoses have been made every year for the past 10 years. This is due to the growth in the number of elderly people. More elderly people lead to more cancer cases, but the total number of new cancer cases relative to the number of inhabitants has been more or less stable for about 10 years.
Skin cancer is mainly caused by exposure to UV radiation. Today’s skin cancer diagnoses are therefore a result of sun exposure from 20 to 30 years ago. Due to more free time and flying holidays, there has been more UV exposure, while the skin is not sufficiently protected. By applying sunscreen and covering the skin, skin cancer can be partially prevented in the future.
The figures do not include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, because national figures are only available for the most recent years and virtually no one dies from it. In 2022, more than 60,000 people will experience this form of skin cancer for the first time.
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