Skin cancer death rates for men in UK have tripled since 1970s

Up to 1,400 men in the UK die from melanoma each year. Cancer Research UK says almost nine in 10 cases are preventable. Photograph: Creative-Family/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Skin cancer death rates among men have more than tripled since the 1970s, research reveals, prompting fresh warnings from experts to stay safe in the sun.

Since 1973, death rates from melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – have increased by 219% in men, compared with the rise of 76% in women, Cancer Research UK found. As many as 1,400 men are now dying from the disease each year, in contrast to 980 women. This amounts to a total of six people a day, the charity said.