This recent study concludes that compared with early detection of melanoma, systematic sunscreen use at a population level will prevent substantial numbers of new skin tumours, melanoma deaths and save healthcare costs. Primary prevention through daily use of sunscreen is a priority for investment in the control of melanoma.
According to this recent study, the achieved diagnostic accuracy between clinical and teledermoscopic diagnosis, when using diagnostic algorithms, establishes a feasible screening path for skin cancers and indicates that general practitioners and specialised surgeons may equally be involved in prevention.
This paper concludes that despite good evidence, New Zealand struggles to deliver effective cancer prevention. It needs to get serious about sun safety if it is to reduce its rate of skin cancer. This requires central and local government leadership in promoting sun safety, shade provision and ensuring SunSmart policies abound.
In order to support the DHBs while New Zealand is responding to COVID-19, Pharmac have removed the specification of dose regimen and radiological monitoring from the special authority criteria. This will make it easier for all patients to receive treatment at an extended dose interval and therefore reduce pressures on the healthcare system.
According to this recent study, metastases in different anatomical locations display distinct response patterns and also are associated with overall response and survival with combination immunotherapy. Specific sites of disease may hold unique mechanisms of resistance and should allow for more personalized treatment.
This recent study suggests that increased intake of dietary vitamin A is associated with decreased risk of incident cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Future studies are needed to determine whether vitamin A supplementation has a role in chemoprevention of SCC.
In the cohort of this recent study, melanoma patients were at 8% risk of a second primary melanoma (SPM) developing within 5 years. Total-body photography (TBP) and digital dermatoscopic documentation (DDD) significantly contributed to the early detection of SPM.
According to this recent study, advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is associated with incomplete initial treatment in an elderly and rural population with good general condition. The authors hypothesize that a lack of access to good dermatological expertise may have led to underestimation of the aggressiveness of cSCC and/or therapeutic mismanagement.
According to this recent American study, the introduction of new therapies for metastatic melanoma was associated with a significant reduction in population-level mortality. It concludes that future research should focus on developing even more effective treatments, identifying biomarkers to select patients most likely to benefit, and renewing emphasis on public health approaches to reduce the number of patients with advanced disease.
A Melanoma Screening Summit in Brisbane, Australia concludes that research is needed to understand how to further optimise early detection of melanoma in Australia. Integrating risk-based population stratification and more precise diagnostic tests is likely to improve the balance of benefits and harms of opportunistic screening, pending assessment of cost-effectiveness.