SKIN CANCER AS A CAUSE OF DEATH.

An estimated 6,000 new cases of skin cancer (excluding melanoma) occur each year in California, and vital statistics data show about 125 deaths attributed annually to this cause. A study of deaths attributed to skin cancer indicates that the true number was probably between 40 and 50. More than half of those who died were 75 years of age or over. Delay by the patient was the factor occurring most often in the deaths which could have been avoided.