Skin Cancer Rate In Marin County Alarmingly Higher Than Rest Of California
SAN RAFAEL (KPIX 5) -- Marin County is known for sun, but residents there may be paying for that exposure.
The rate of diagnoses in Marin County for melanoma are 43-percent higher than the rest of the Bay Area, and 60-percent higher than the rest of California.
Even more alarming – melanoma death rates in Marin County are 18-percent higher than the rest of the state.
Doctors in Marin County knew the skin cancer rate was high, they just didn't know how high, and it may have to do with an active community.
"People in Marin County are very active," San Rafael resident Paul Kasbar said.
Skin tone could also have something to do with the melanoma rate, according to doctors.
"There is a lot more fair skin, and there is more access to healthcare. So, perhaps we are also finding skin cancers earlier," Dr. Sarvenaz Zand said.