Not only are doctors more likely to find melanoma than patients, but they tend to find them earlier, when they are easier to treat. That?s the finding of a study out this week in the Archives of Dermatology.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City looked at the records of 394 patients, who had a total of 527 melanomas. In patients who had been treated at the hospital for at least three months, 82 percent of the melanomas were found by doctors, not patients. In new patients, 63 percent were found by doctors. Cancers found by doctors also tended to be thinner, meaning that they were not as advanced.
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. While melanoma accounts for only 5 percent to 6 percent of skin cancers, it causes roughly 75 percent of skin-cancer related deaths. The survival rate for advanced-stage melanoma is low, so early detection is crucial.
Bottom line: It certainly pays to check your own skin for worrisome changes. See our tips for how to recognize melanoma, as well as other forms of skin cancer. But also periodically have a doctor give you the once over, too. Find out what should be included in a thorough screening. Finally, take steps to prevent skin cancer by limiting your time in the sun, wearing protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. See our updated Ratings of sunscreens.
Sources
The Impact of Physician Screening on Melanoma Detection [Archives of Dermatology]
Skin Cancer Facts [Skin Cancer Foundation]
Factors Associated With Physician Discovery of Early Melanoma in Middle-aged and Older Men [Archives of Dermatology]
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