The number of men developing skin cancer in Ireland has jumped by over 21% since 2009, new figures indicate.

The figures were released by VHI Healthcare to mark its sponsorship of Blue September - a national campaign that aims to raise awareness and funds for male cancers.

According to the VHI, in 2009, 3,200 of its male customers were treated for skin cancer, which is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in men. However last year, this figure had risen to almost 3,900, an increase of 21.6%.

Altogether in 2013, almost 12,000 of VHI's male customers were treated for cancer at a cost of €101 million. After skin cancer, the most common cancers in men were prostate cancer (2,012 men treated), colorectal cancer (1,084 treated) and lung cancer (440 treated).

Commenting on the figures, VHI's medical director, Dr Bernadette Carr, emphasised that while more people are being diagnosed with cancer in Ireland, ‘survival rates are continuing to improve'.

"This is due primarily to huge improvements in treatments and therapies. Increased awareness including earlier detection and access to appropriate screening services also contribute to more successful outcomes," she noted.

She said that the Blue September campaign wants to get men to ‘face up to cancer, to be aware of the risks, to check themselves regularly and to be proactive about looking after their health'.

Blue September is an international campaign that is coordinated in Ireland by the Men's Cancer Alliance. For more information on the campaign, click here