Originally published in Skin News Volume XVI, Issue I, Spring 2009 by Richard G. Asarch, MD
New cases of the deadly skin cancer, melanoma, are increasing among men and women in the United States particularly among older men, researchers report. Rates of the melanoma increased by 3.1 percent in a year, the researchers found.
The melanoma rates are going up among all socioeconomic groups which probably relates to the access to a physician for care. However, it also has increased for all levels of tumor thickness, which is a marker for the severity of the disease. The researchers felt that because the incidence has gone up for both men and women of all social groups and across all levels of cancer thickness, this represents a genuine increase in melanoma cases, not just a sign of better screening.
It is important, especially for fair-skinned people who are at a higher risk for all skin cancers, to monitor themselves and seek medical care if they have any questions. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a yearly skin exam to aid in detecting melanomas and other skin cancers as early as possible. When diagnosed early, skin cancer is totally curable with surgery.
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