TOPLINE:

Average treatment costs for melanoma in the UK varied drastically by stage, with the costs for late-stage melanoma being 22.5-fold higher than those for early-stage melanoma in 2023, according to a quantitative cost-analysis study.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a quantitative analysis using data from two peer-reviewed papers to estimate the average cumulative cost for the treatment of melanoma on the basis of the stage of the disease.
• This study included data from the NHS between 2021 and 2022 and from the Republic of Ireland for the year 2020 to evaluate costs of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up in the UK and Ireland.
• A cost adjustment factor was calculated using 5-year average costs for all stages of melanoma from the two studies. This factor was then applied to Irish stage-specific data to estimate costs in the UK.
• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) forecasts up to 2027 were provided by the Office for Budget Responsibility, and future average cost estimates for 2024-2033 were calculated with an assumed CPI of 2% evaluated on the basis of historical average rates.

TAKEAWAY:

• Average cumulative costs for patients with melanoma diagnosed in 2023 were £9512 for stage I, £77,813 for stage II, £179,274 for stage III, and £213,801 for stage IV.
• The estimated average cumulative cost difference between stage I and IV melanomas was £204,289 in 2023 and was projected to increase to £250,215 by 2033.
• Treatment costs for stage IV melanoma were 22.5-fold higher than those for stage I melanoma in 2023.

IN PRACTICE:

"With increased utilization of high-cost systemic therapy in stage II+ melanoma, this study highlights the discrepancy in estimated cost between early- and late-stage melanoma. This emphasizes the need to deliver a comprehensive melanoma public health strategy that includes primary prevention and early detection through screening and new technologies such as artificial intelligence," the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Khaylen Mistry, Department of Dermatology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Norwich, England. It was published online on October 22, 2025, in the British Journal of Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

Costs for advanced melanoma were likely underestimated as the analysis did not incorporate follow-up scans and additional health requirements related to side effects of treatment or disease progression. Additionally, cost differences between the UK and Ireland may have been influenced by the reduced use of adjuvant therapy for early-stage melanomas in Ireland.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by Melanoma Focus. One author reported serving as a deputy editor of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. Another author reported being a trustee of the British Association of Dermatologists.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.