Watch your back for melanomas
Incidence and mortality rates for melanoma are steadily increasing for middle-aged and older men, according to an article in the Archives of Dermatology.
Nearly 50% of all melanoma deaths in the United States are in white men 50 years or older.
The goal of the multi-institutional survey was to identify factors associated with detection of melanoma overall and to compare factors associated with detection of thinner versus thicker tumors in middle-aged and older men.
The men in this study had poor awareness overall regarding the warning signs of melanoma.
“Skin screenings of at-risk middle-aged and older American men can be integrated into the routine physical examination, with particular emphasis on hard-to-see areas, such as the back of the body,” the study authors wrote.
“‘Watch your back’ professional education campaigns should be promoted by skin cancer advocacy organisations”.
