Skin Cancer Incidence Estimates Rise by 42 Percent in New Analysis

For over a decade, health professionals relied on data from a 2015 study that analyzed 2012 statistics. That report suggested 3.3 million patients were diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) annually. SkinCure Oncology CEO Kerwin Brandt argues these figures have become woefully out of date, failing to account for significant demographic shifts and historical growth trends.

The new estimate of 4.7 million patients is considered a conservative baseline. It is derived from four distinct methodologies, most notably the aging of the U.S. population. Since 2012, the number of Americans aged 65 and older—the demographic most susceptible to NMSC—has grown by nearly 50 percent, rising from 43.1 million to 64 million. Even without accounting for increased individual risk, this population surge alone drives the patient count to the 4.7 million mark. Other metrics, including a 2.5 percent annual compound growth rate and federal expenditure surveys, suggest the true number could be even higher, with some projections reaching 5.9 million individuals.

Brandt is now calling on policymakers and the medical community to move beyond these estimates by establishing a national registry for NMSC. He contends that better tracking is essential to ensure appropriate insurance reimbursement and to prioritize early-stage identification. By integrating comprehensive reporting, the healthcare system could more accurately address the needs of patients currently treated through various FDA-cleared methods, including the company's Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy.