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The Cancer Burden: Skin Cancer

Melanoma is the most serious and most common form of skin cancer. It is diagnosed far more often in whites than in African Americans. However, a study reported in the Journal of Surgical Oncology (Vol. 78, No. 1: 10 – 16) showed that when African Americans develop the disease, it’s deadlier. African Americans have a 45% survival rate at five years compared to 69% in whites.

Melanoma lesions occur more often on sun-exposed skin in whites. But in African Americans, the lesions show up on the extremities, especially the soles of feet or palms of the hands. African Americans Usually Are Diagnosed Later than Whites This study looked at patients' charts from the Charity Hospital of New Orleans. The patients were diagnosed with melanoma from 1975 to 1997.

The researchers looked at the patients' age, gender, where the cancers were on their bodies, how far the cancer had spread, the patients' race, and how long they lived. Of 198 melanoma patients, 44 were African Americans. Of these, 25 were diagnosed with melanoma located on the skin. These patients were compared to 80 white patients with the same skin cancer type.

For more information:

Skin Cancer 2008.ppt

Skin Cancer Health Break 2008.doc