Deaths from melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, have been reduced by one-third over the past decade in New Zealand in spite of no overall decrease in new cases.

This is according to a study released on Friday.

A report by an editorial published in the New Zealand Medical Journal said it reduced most likely due to increased awareness, which leads to earlier diagnosis and more effective diagnostic services and treatments.

Melanoma usually occurs on body parts that have been overexposed to the sun.

Deaths from melanoma at all ages have fallen considerably, said authors from the University of Auckland, University of Waikato and the Clinical Trials New Zealand.

The editorial said there were 333 deaths in 2021, and if the 2012 rates had continued, there would have been 164 more, the editorial said.

It said the favourable mortality trends could be due to reduced deeper, poor prognosis melanoma.

The editorial added that the reduced mortality may also reflect increased survival rates of patients with advanced melanoma due to new treatments.

However, the authors warned melanoma remains a big problem in New Zealand, and the number of new cases has not reduced. 

(Xinhua/NAN)