A new report finds skin cancer on the rise in Nebraska with thousands of new cases and hundreds of deaths in recent years.

According to Quote Wizard, Nebraska has seen a 13 percent increase in skin cancer cases over the last four years, the second highest increase in the country.

Between 2015 and 2019, 3,047 Nebraskans were diagnosed with the disease with 284 deaths.

Overall, Nebraska ranks sixth worst in the nation with 29 cases per 100,000 people over those same four years.

Utah is the worst with 41 cases per 100,000 people.

Experts tell us that colder states have higher rates than warmer states most likely because those in sunnier climates are better at protecting themselves from the sun’s rays.

The study is based on statistics from the CDC and National Cancer Institute.