Melanoma risk perception and prevention behavior among African-Americans: the minority melanoma paradox

Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer with 75% of all skin cancer deaths within the US attributed to it. Risk factors for melanoma include ultraviolet exposure, genetic predisposition, and phenotypic characteristics (eg, fair skin and blond hair). Whites have a 27-fold higher incidence of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2015-01, Vol.8 (default), p.423-429
Main Authors: Goldenberg, Alina, Vujic, Igor, Sanlorenzo, Martina, Ortiz-Urda, Susana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African Americans
Diagnosis
Health aspects
Melanoma
Mortality
Mutation
Prevention
Review
Risk factors
Skin cancer
Vitamin D
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer with 75% of all skin cancer deaths within the US attributed to it. Risk factors for melanoma include ultraviolet exposure, genetic predisposition, and phenotypic characteristics (eg, fair skin and blond hair). Whites have a 27-fold higher incidence of melanoma than African-Americans (AA), but the 5-year survival is 17.8% lower for AA than Whites. It is reported continuously that AA have more advanced melanomas at diagnosis, and overall lower survival rates. This minority melanoma paradox is not well understood or studied. To explore further, the possible explanations for the difference in melanoma severity and survival in AA within the US. Qualitative review of the literature. Lack of minority-targeted public education campaigns, low self-risk perception, low self-skin examinations, intrinsic virulence, vitamin D differences, and physician mistrust may play a role in the melanoma survival disparity among AA. Increases in public awareness of melanoma risk among AA through physician and media-guided education, higher index of suspicion among individuals and physicians, and policy changes can help to improve early detection and close the melanoma disparity gap in the future.
ISSN:1178-7015
1178-7015
DOI:10.2147/CCID.S87645