Melanoma: incidence and mortality
 in the world and Kazakhstan in 2018

Abstract

Relevance: Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and unpredictable tumors. Melanoma most often affects the skin.
 Over the past 50 years, the incidence of melanoma in the world has been overgrowing. The highest rates were observed among
 fair-skinned people and in the regions with lower latitude. The incidence is higher among older adults but is also one of the
 common forms of cancer among young people. Melanoma incidence and mortality depend on gender, age, ethnicity, as well
 as on the region of residence.
 The purpose of the study was to assess the skin melanoma epidemiology in the world and Kazakhstan in 2018.
 Results: Melanoma incidence was growing throughout the world during the past decades, with an annual incidence of
 4-6%. Melanoma incidence is expected to reach 450,000 cases a year in the next two decades.
 Kazakhstan has experienced an increase in melanoma incidence by 63% over the past ten years. Females made 61% of
 cases. The incidence remained high in the East Kazakhstan region and the cities of Almaty and Karaganda. High mortality
 was registered in North Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, and Pavlodar regions, and the city of Almaty. Since 2009, the five-year
 survival with melanoma in the Republic of Kazakhstan has decreased by 2.2%.
 Conclusion: Melanoma morbidity and mortality is growing worldwide. Even though its incidence is below one-tenths of
 other types of skin cancer, the ability of melanoma to quickly metastasize and affect young adults makes this disease as a
 serious social problem.
 It is necessary to improve the methods of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of melanoma aimed at identifying
 individuals at high risk of tumor development and optimize the methods of its early diagnostics and definition of the risk of
 metastasis