EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SKIN CANCER IN BRAZIL, FROM 2019 TO 2023.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, skin cancer is the most common, accounting for about 30% of all malignant tumors recorded. The non-melanoma type, which includes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is the most prevalent and has the lowest mortality rate. These tumors have low lethality and rare metastases. Skin cancer most often affects people with fair skin, weakened immune systems, and radiation exposure. Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, but it has the worst prognosis and the highest mortality rate among malignant skin neoplasms. It is associated with a personal or family history of melanoma and intense sunburn in multiple episodes. METHODOLOGY: This is an epidemiological, retrospective, and descriptive research, with a quantitative approach, based on data obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), carried out using data on skin cancer notifications in Brazil between the years 2019 and 2023. RESULT AND DISCUSSION: Between 2019 and 2023, 399,230 cases of skin cancer were registered in Brazil, with 46.1% of cases in men (184,515) and 53.9% in women (214,715). The discrepancy between the sexes can be attributed to behavioral, biological, and socioeconomic factors, including the influence of female hormones, such as estrogen, on cutaneous carcinogenesis. Most cases were of other malignant skin neoplasms (74.22%), followed by carcinoma in situ (18.85%) and malignant melanoma (6.93%). The Southeast region was the most affected, with 41.29% (165,105 cases), followed by the South with 35.61% (142,043 cases). The Northeast, Midwest and North regions had 12.91% (51,558 cases), 6.42% (25,608 cases) and 3.74% (14,916 cases) respectively. The incidence by age group shows that people over 60 years old are the most affected. Specifically, the age groups between 60 and 64 years accounted for 12.06% (48,167 cases), between 65 and 69 years 13.22% (52,723 cases), between 70 and 74 years 12.89% (51,398 cases), between 75 and 79 years 10.87% (43,429 cases) and 80 years and over 15.47% (61,786 cases). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that women were more affected by skin cancer and the Southeast region had a higher number of cases. The age group over 60 years was most affected and malignant skin neoplasms accounted for the majority of cases. Between 2019 and 2023, there was a significant increase in incidence. The combination of behavioral, biological, and regional factors, sun exposure, hormonal influence, and variations in population density and access to health care reflect this increase in cases.