Hispanics and blacks diagnosed later with melanoma

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Although white people are more at risk of melanoma, a new study shows that the disease can be worse in other ethnic groups.
The skin cancer melanoma has become increasingly common. Light-skinned individuals are more at risk. So much of the prevention and early detection has targeted the white population. A new study from the University of Miami now reveals that this focus has improved survival rates from melanoma for whites, but the same is not true for Hispanics and blacks.

They reviewed 1,690 melanoma patients of which 1,176 were white, 485 Hispanic and 29 non-Hispanic blacks. The Hispanics and blacks were more likely to have advanced stage melanoma. Of the patient group, 16 per cent of the Hispanics and 31 per cent of the blacks had cancer that had already spread compared to just nine per cent of the whites.

In general, white patients were most likely to be diagnosed at an early stage of melanoma. This may account for why Hispanics and blacks are less likely to survive melanoma, even though they are less at risk of the disease. There is a need for more education about melanoma across all ethnic groups and an awareness of the importance of regular self-examination and reporting of any suspicious skin lesions.

Source
Archives of Dermatology June 2006