Which U.S. States Have the Highest Rates of Melanoma?

Melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer that typically begins in a mole. It can occur anywhere on the body, and although it is the least common type of skin cancer, it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body and, ultimately, cause death.

Within the United States, Utah has the highest incidence rate of melanoma and Washington, D.C., has the lowest, according to the most recently available 2013 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 9 out of 10 cases of melanoma are diagnosed in non-Hispanic whites, and differences in state populations are responsible for much of the variation in melanoma rates between states, the CDC says.

Many other factors can influence incidence, including variations in medical care and lifestyle factors. Visit the CDC website for more information on comparing cancer data among states.

Learn about risk factors for melanoma. For more information on treatment for melanoma, visit the Center for Melanoma Oncology at Dana-Farber.