Melanoma Diagnoses Are Rising Faster in Older Adults—And Racial Disparities Are Widening

Melanoma diagnoses in the United States are climbing, with an estimated 112,000 new cases of invasive melanoma expected in 2026—up from 104,960 projected cases the previous year. While younger adults have seen some progress in slowing melanoma rates, older Americans are facing a different story, and a stark racial divide in survival outcomes is raising urgent questions about early detection and equitable care.

Why Are Melanoma Rates Rising Fastest in Older Adults?

The numbers tell a concerning story about age and melanoma risk. Among adults under 50, the good news is that melanoma incidence has stabilized in women and declined by about 1% per year in men. But for adults 50 and older, the trend reverses sharply. Rates are increasing by almost 2.8% per year in women and 1.4% per year in men in this age group.

Experts estimate that roughly 90% of all melanoma diagnoses are attributed to ultraviolet (UV) exposure from sunlight or indoor tanning, making these cases potentially preventable. This means decades of cumulative sun exposure—especially for older adults who grew up before widespread sun safety awareness—may be catching up with them now.

How to Address Racial Disparities in Melanoma Diagnosis and Outcomes

Perhaps the most troubling finding is a significant disparity in how melanoma affects people of different races. The lifetime risk of getting melanoma is about 3% for White people, 0.5% for Hispanic people, and 0.1% for Black people. However, when melanoma does occur in Black individuals, the consequences are far more severe. From 2015 to 2021, the five-year survival rate was 95% among White individuals but only 70% among Black individuals.

This 25-percentage-point gap doesn't reflect biological differences in the disease itself. Instead, researchers point to two interconnected problems:

• Delayed Diagnosis: People of color may perceive their own melanoma risk as low and delay seeking medical care, allowing the disease to progress to more advanced stages before treatment begins.
• Clinician Oversight: Doctors may overlook melanoma in patients of color or fail to examine non-sun-exposed areas where rare melanoma subtypes like acral melanoma (which forms on palms, soles, and nail beds) are more common in darker-skinned individuals.
• Assumption Bias: Some clinicians may assume their patients of color are at reduced melanoma risk and therefore may not be as thorough in screening or may be unfamiliar with how melanoma presents differently across skin tones.

The impact of early detection cannot be overstated. When melanoma is diagnosed at a localized stage—meaning it hasn't spread beyond the original site—five-year survival rates exceed 99%. But once melanoma spreads to other parts of the body (metastatic melanoma), survival becomes far more challenging. The five-year survival rate for advanced metastatic melanoma has improved dramatically from 15% in the mid-2000s to 35% between 2015 and 2021, thanks to new immunotherapy and targeted therapy options. However, this still underscores why catching melanoma early is so critical.

What's Changing in Melanoma Treatment and Research?

The good news is that treatment options have expanded significantly. Since the Melanoma Research Alliance was founded in 2007, there have been 17 new drug approvals for treating invasive melanoma, including various immunotherapies and targeted therapies. These advances have translated into real improvements in patient outcomes. Mortality rates from melanoma have declined by approximately 2% per year in women and 3% per year in men over the past decade, reflecting the potential impact of these newer treatments.

To address disparities and advance research into rare melanoma subtypes, the Melanoma Research Alliance has launched two key initiatives. The RARE Registry is an interactive, free web and mobile-friendly tool where patients facing mucosal melanoma, acral melanoma, or cutaneous melanoma (the most common subtype) can share their disease history, connect with others, and get matched to clinical trials. Additionally, the MRA Melanoma Biorepository allows patients to donate melanoma and normal tissue samples from past or future procedures, fueling discovery and helping researchers identify new treatment targets—with particular emphasis on acral and mucosal melanoma.

The Melanoma Research Alliance's current scientific priorities reflect the urgency of these challenges: improving early detection and diagnosis across all races and ethnicities, understanding why some melanomas resist treatment, deciphering how melanoma spreads to the brain, and advancing research into rare melanoma subtypes.

For patients and families, the takeaway is clear: melanoma prevention through sun safety remains essential, but so does awareness of your own risk—regardless of skin tone. If you notice any new or changing moles, or if you have a family history of melanoma, don't delay in getting evaluated by a dermatologist. Early detection can mean the difference between a highly curable disease and a far more serious one.