Lebanese American University

School of Arts and Sciences

Department of Natural Sciences

Environmental Chemistry
CHM340

Activity
Chapter 2
Mohamed Amjad Alhamwi

201902346

Presented to:

Dr. Nathalie Hayeck

New Zealand and Australia have the highest incidence and mortality rates
from cutaneous melanoma in the world .It was examined whether New
Zealand trends in melanoma mortality mirror those in Australia, through
detailed comparison of the trends in both countries from 1968 to 2007.
Five-year age-specific and age-standardised mortality rates were
calculated for each country for 5-year time periods.. The age-standardised
mortality rate for melanoma increased in both sexes in New Zealand and
Australia from 1968 to 2007, but the increase was greater in New
Zealanders and women in particular. There was evidence of recent
significant decreases in mortality in younger Australians and less so in New
Zealand women aged under 45 years. Mortality from melanoma increased
in successive generations born from about 1893 to 1918. In Australia, a
decline in mortality started for generations born from about 1958 but in New
Zealand there is possibly a decrease only in generations born since 1968.
Mortality trends in New Zealand and Australia are discrepant. It is too early
to know if the pattern in mortality rates in New Zealand is simply a delayed
response to melanoma control activities compared with Australia, whereby
we can expect the same downward trend in similar age groups in the next
few years. Specific research is needed to better understand and control the
increases in mortality and thickness of melanoma in New Zealand.
This table presents the age/gender specific incidence rates for all men and
women during the period of study. In males, the incidence was highest
374.4/100000 in the age group >80 years while in females it was highest in the
age group 61-70 years (178.2/100000).

In all of the 3 countries, we observe that females were more frequently affected
than males. The number of people diagnosed with melanoma is increasing. From
2008 to 2017, rates increased by around 2% each year. However, the rates of
diagnosis vary by age. Specifically, the number of adolescents aged 15 to 19
diagnosed with melanoma declined 6% each year between 2007 and 2016.