Cancers of the skin have a higher incidence than all other cancers combined with over 120,000 new cases of melanoma estimated in 2007 and a similar number of new cases projected in 2008. Incidence rates continue to rise dramatically. Melanoma is responsible for approximately 75% of skin cancer fatalities. With no current cure for advanced stage melanoma, it is the deadliest and fastest growing of all skin cancers. However, if caught early, melanoma is virtually 100% curable.
If diagnosed early, a dermatologist resects the melanoma at a cost of approximately $1,800 per patient. Treatment costs soar as the melanoma advances, rising to $170,000 per patient at the later stages and accounting for 90% of the overall melanoma treatment costs.
Because early detection is critical to survival, the American Cancer Society recommends that the 100 million Americans over the age 40 undergo complete skin examinations on an annual basis. The 20 million or more individuals in the US with dysplastic nevi, a type of pigmented skin lesion associated with an increased risk of melanoma, also warrant more frequent observation.
Melanomas are mainly diagnosed by dermatologists and/or primary care physicians using visual clinical evaluation. Physicians assess pigmented skin lesions using the “ABCDE” criteria, Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than 6 mm, and Evolving — change in “ABCD” over time. This assessment is subjective and results in missed melanomas, as well as a highly variable ratio of benign lesions biopsied to melanomas confirmed; the ratio is as high as 40 to 1 for dermatologists and as high as 50 to 1 for primary care physicians. |
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