Analysis of the First 15 Years of the American Academy of Dermatology's
National Skin Cancer Screening Program Confirms Previous Findings Of
Populations Most at Risk
NEW YORK, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Free health screenings have become a
fixture in everyday life across America. From shopping malls to fitness
clubs, people of all ages are taking advantage of preventative health care
opportunities to help prevent and detect potentially serious diseases. To
combat the growing risk of skin cancer in this country, the American Academy
of Dermatology (AAD) initiated a national skin cancer screening program in
1985 that has provided free skin exams to more than 1.3 million people. A new
study examining data collected over the first 15 years from program
participants found two distinct groups most at risk for skin cancer, including
melanoma -- the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology's Melanoma/Skin
Cancer Detection and Prevention Month Press Conference, dermatologist Allan C.
Halpern, MD, Chief, Department of Dermatology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, NY, and co-author of "The first 15 years of the American
Academy of Dermatology Skin Cancer Screening Programs: 1985-1999," published
in the January 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology and the October 2002 issue of the journal Cancer, discussed the
study's findings.
The purpose of the AAD's skin cancer screening program is to reduce the
rate of illness and death from skin cancer. Skin cancer is a large and
growing problem in the American population. Over the past decades, the
incidence of all three major types of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma,
squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) has risen dramatically. According to
current statistics, nearly half of all new cancers are skin cancers and more
than 1 million new skin cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States
this year. It is estimated that skin cancer will claim 9,800 lives in 2003.
As expected, a large number of suspected skin cancers were detected
through the AAD's national skin cancer screening program. Of the participants
who were screened, presumptive diagnosis indicated more than 10 percent of
participants were suspected of having skin cancer -- approximately 9 percent
were suspected of having a basal cell carcinoma, 1 percent had lesions
suspicious for squamous cell carcinoma, and 0.8 percent had lesions thought to
be melanoma. Upon further examination of the suspected 0.8 percent melanoma
lesions, at least 363 melanomas were confirmed by biopsies. The majority of
these melanomas were discovered at an early and relatively easily-cured stage
of development.
"When we looked at the data of who was being diagnosed with melanoma, we
found that the majority of these people were men over age 50," explained
Dr. Halpern. "In fact, when we examined data from 1992 to 1994 of confirmed
melanomas, 44 percent of individuals diagnosed with melanoma were white men
over the age of 50 -- even though they comprised fewer than 20 percent of all
those screened during this three-year time period."
According to the AAD's screening data, the following subgroups (in order
of decreasing frequency) yielded the highest number of confirmed melanomas:
men over age 50 with a changing mole or fair skin, and men under age 50 with a
changing mole or fair skin.
Although the data shows that men accounted for the majority of diagnosed
cases of melanoma, this demographic accounted for only 39 percent of the total
number of people screened over the 15-year study. Women made up 61 percent of
the total people screened.
"We have long suspected that men are the least likely group to perform
monthly skin self-examinations or visit a dermatologist regularly, thus
increasing their chances of having a potentially life-threatening, undetected
melanoma," said Dr. Halpern. "It's critical that middle-aged and older men
understand the risk factors for melanoma, perform regular skin self-exams, and
take advantage of free screening opportunities such as the AAD's skin cancer
screening program."
In further examining the individuals who participated in the AAD's free
skin cancer screenings, a vast majority had one or more risk factors for
developing skin cancer. Among the reported skin cancer risk factors among the
screened population, 95 percent of participants were white, 37 percent had a
fair complexion and sunburn easily, 33 percent had a family history of a
changing mole, and 28 percent had a family history of skin cancer.
"Our data suggests that the AAD's skin cancer screening program not only
serves a high-risk population, but half of the screening participants that we
studied reported that they would not have seen a doctor for skin cancer
without the free screening," reported Dr. Halpern. "It's encouraging that
individuals with multiple risk factors for developing skin cancer made up the
majority of our program's screening participants. Clearly, the AAD is
succeeding in educating the public about assessing their personal skin cancer
risk and ultimately helping save lives."
In May, the AAD has designated the first Monday of the month as Melanoma
Monday. This year, Melanoma Monday (May 5) marks the beginning of the 19th
annual Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. During May and
throughout the year, nearly 2,000 dermatologists will be offering free
screenings for early skin cancers, including melanoma. These screenings will
take place at local hospitals, work places, health fairs and other designated
sites. Consumers who want to find a screening in their area can visit the
AAD's web site at http://www.aad.org for a list of dermatologists conducting free
skin cancer screenings.
The AAD's skin cancer screening program is a community-based program that
is open to the general public and relies on dermatologists who volunteer their
time to perform the screening examinations. Prior to the screenings,
participants complete a standardized AAD screening form. Results from these
screening forms and the actual skin examination are maintained, tabulated, and
analyzed by the AAD in a collaborative effort with researchers from Boston
University.
The American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most
influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a
membership of over 14,000 dermatologists worldwide, the Academy is committed
to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatment of
the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice,
education, and research in dermatology; supporting and enhancing patient care
for a lifetime of healthier skin. For more information, contact the AAD at
1-888-462-DERM or http://www.aad.org .
SOURCE American Academy of Dermatology
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Related links:
http://www.aad.org
CONTACT:
Karen Klickmann, +1-847-240-1735,
kklickmann@aad.org , Jennifer Allyn, +1-847-240-1730,
jallyn@aad.org , or Kristin Lubeck, +1-847-240-1743,
klubeck@aad.org , all of American Academy of Dermatology
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