The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for melanoma in the United States are for 2009:

• 68,720 new cases of melanoma
• 8,650 deaths from melanoma

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases. But it causes most skin cancer deaths. The number of new cases of melanoma in the United States has not changed much in the last 8 years. Overall, the lifetime risk of getting melanoma is about 1 in 50 for whites, 1 in 1,000 for blacks, 1 in 200 for Hispanics.

Last Medical Review: 07/01/2008
Last Revised: 05/06/2009