Unfortunately, skin cancer is becoming more of a prominent problem these days. The good news is that awareness is growing about the issue, which is evidenced by the attention placed on encouraging the discontinued use of tanning beds and ensuring that adults and kids of all ages are wearing sunscreen as needed. However when speaking in terms of demographics, males aged 50 and over should be paying the most attention to both the warnings and dangers associated with skin cancer. Specifically, they should screen themselves every now and then.
Unlike other cancers like breast, colon or prostate cancer where there are recommended ages for screenings, skin cancer screenings set no such guidelines. Because of this men and women have long been advised to examine their skin at all ages in order to detect any abnormalities. However a new report has indicated that men over the age of 50 aren’t exactly heeding that advice.
A study1 was conducted of 167 patients who were all diagnosed with melanoma over a five-year period, and looked at which groups of patients were more or less likely to detect their own melanoma before being examined by a dermatologist. The study concluded that about 60% of the individuals brought up melanoma concerns with the dermatologist. However the study then found that the older the individuals were, the less likely they were to detect any problems. Specifically, men over the age of 50 were more likely to be diagnosed with invasive melanoma by a dermatologist then the women who were in the same age group.
A second study2 surveyed 478 adults who requested a skin cancer screening by a dermatologist to determine if their age or gender played in a role in their seeking of an exam. The study found that the primary reason men who were over 50 had an exam was only due to a previous diagnosis. This group was less likely than all of the other individuals in the study to request a screening due to them finding a concerning spot on their skin.
Dr. Laura Ferris, who headed the research went on to state that “Older men are most at risk for melanoma and are most likely to die due to a delayed diagnosis.” Fortunately, she had a few tips to screen yourself that in the end could ultimately save your life. These include using a mirror to examine any difficult, ahem, regions, looking out for a mole that doesn’t look like anything else on your body, and paying attention to any blotches or moles on your skin that appear to be growing or changing colors. And of course, if you’re ever in doubt, see your dermatologist.
Fortunately, not only is skin cancer preventable by protecting yourself but detecting it early enough can be life saving. In those instances melanoma can be highly curable. It’s important that all of us, not just men, screen ourselves once in a while just to make sure there isn’t anything too alarming going on down there. Or anywhere, for that matter.
Photo Credit: Christiana Care
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1"Surveillance of Patients for Early Detection of Melanoma," http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=423917
2 "The Influence of Age and Sex on Reasons for Seeking and Expected Benefits of Skin Cancer Screening," http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=422126
