Canada is experiencing a state of severe concern due to increasing rates of skin cancer in the past two years.
Iwana Nikola, a senior epidemiologist at the Canadian Cancer Society, said, “We are seeing that skin cancer rates are on the rise, and in fact, they have seen the largest increase of any cancer, especially among males.”

She added that as much as people are aware that they are “smart about the sun” by wearing hats and sunglasses, sitting in the shade, and applying sunscreen, there are still many people who do none of these things, making them more at risk.

Nikola explained, “The projections for 2024 estimate there will be about 11,300 new cases of skin cancer and about 1,300 new deaths.”

Nikola revealed, “Skin cancer is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and about 65 percent of skin cancer cases in Canada are due to UV exposure,” adding that this includes the sun but also tanning beds – a habit she wishes people would stop using.

She added, “One reason is that other non-melanoma skin cancers are detected in doctors’ offices and through dermatology clinics, so we cannot capture this data in the records. We know there are gaps in our cancer registry information and the data being collected.”

However, there is a positive side to all this, as mortality rates are declining despite the rising number of cases.

Nikola said, “Probably because there are new and more effective treatments, early diagnosis, but also improvements in policies and making people aware of the risks of sun exposure.”

Nikola did not specify the recommended time for someone to stay in the sun, but she adds that with so many sunscreens on the market, people should apply a sunscreen with at least a factor of 30 every day, throughout the day, year-round.