Women are more likely than men to survive a melanoma diagnosis, regardless of the stage of their tumour at diagnosis, new research from Australia shows.

The joint study by the University of Queensland, Cancer Council Queensland and QIMR Berghofer, found survival rates were higher for females for nearly all tumour stages. But the study also found the advantage was weaker for women aged under 45.

Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Katie Clift said more research was needed to understand why women’s survival rates were higher than men’s.

“Our research shows the survival differences for women aren’t just present with thick melanoma, but also stage one melanoma – the most commonly diagnosed,” said Clift. “The data indicates there may be an underlying biological mechanism, influenced by age, which exists in females from the very early stages of the disease. Further studies are needed to explore the role of sex hormones, and in particular the function of pregnancy, in relation to melanoma survival.”

The study compared melanoma survival rates between males and females in Queensland (28,979 patients) and the US (57,402 patients) between 1995 and 2008 by stage and age groups.