Skin cancer expected to become the leading cancer type in the Netherlands by 2045

According to a recent IKNL projection, skin cancer—including melanoma and squamous-cell carcinoma—will emerge as the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the Netherlands by 2045, overtaking prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. The rise is attributed not only to an aging and expanding population but also to higher UV exposure during childhood and greater detection awareness among patients and physicians. While the total number of new cancer cases and cancer-related deaths are forecast to increase modestly over the next two decades, prostate cancer will continue to be the leading cause of cancer death among men and lung cancer among women. The report also notes a decline in lung-cancer diagnoses among men, linked to reduced smoking rates, and highlights that lifestyle factors such as obesity and UV protection influence future cancer trends.