Trends in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers in southeastern Arizona, 1985-1996

This report describes trends in the incidence of various nonmelanoma skin c ancers in a region of high ultraviolet exposure. The Southeastern Arizona S kin Cancer Registry routinely identified cases of skin cancer between 1985 and 1996 through pathology logs and reports from dermatology offices and la boratories in 3 Arizona counties. The incidence rates for squamous cell car cinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) for non-Hispanic whites were 3 to 6 times higher than the incidence rates from more northern regions. The rates for non-Hispanic whites were approximately 11 times greater than rate s for Hispanics. Furthermore, there was no constant increase in the inciden ce of nonmelanoma skin cancers. The incidence of SCC, in particular, demons trated a plateau or even a modest decline between 1985 ind 1996. Thus the i ncidence rates of both SCC and BCC in Arizona, although among the highest i n the world, do not appear to be increasing as rapidly as predicted elsewhe re.