BACKGROUND: Little is known about the potential benefit of skin self-examination for melanoma prevention and early detection. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether skin self-examination is associated with reduced melanoma risk, self-detection of tumours, and reduced risk of deeper melanomas. METHODS: We used data from a population-based case-control study (423 cases, 678 controls) to assess recent skin self-examination in relation to self-detection, melanoma risk and tumour depth ( ≤1 mm; > 1 mm). Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of interest. RESULTS: Skin self-examination conducted 1-11 times during a recent year was associated with a possible decrease in melanoma risk (OR 0·74; 95% CI 0·54-1·02). Melanoma risk was decreased for those who conducted skin self-examination and saw a doctor (OR 0·52; 95% CI 0·30-0·90). Among cases, those who examined their skin were twice as likely to self-detect the melanoma (OR 2·23; 95% CI 1·47-3·38), but self-detection was not associated with shallower tumours. Tumour depth was reduced for those who conducted skin self-examination 1-11 times during a recent year (OR 0·39; 95% CI 0·18-0·81), but was not influenced by seeing a doctor, or by conducting skin self-examination and seeing a doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of a deeper tumour and possibly risk of melanoma were reduced by skin self-examination 1-11 times annually. Melanoma risk was markedly reduced by skin self-examination coupled with a doctor visit. We cannot, however, exclude the possibility that our findings reflect bias or confounding. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the potential benefits of skin self-examination for melanoma prevention and early detection.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the potential benefit of skin self-examination for melanoma prevention and early detection. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether skin self-examination is associated with reduced melanoma risk, self-detection of tumours, and reduced risk of deeper melanomas. METHODS: We used data from a population-based case-control study (423 cases, 678 controls) to assess recent skin self-examination in relation to self-detection, melanoma risk and tumour depth ( ≤1 mm; > 1 mm). Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of interest. RESULTS: Skin self-examination conducted 1-11 times during a recent year was associated with a possible decrease in melanoma risk (OR 0·74; 95% CI 0·54-1·02). Melanoma risk was decreased for those who conducted skin self-examination and saw a doctor (OR 0·52; 95% CI 0·30-0·90). Among cases, those who examined their skin were twice as likely to self-detect the melanoma (OR 2·23; 95% CI 1·47-3·38), but self-detection was not associated with shallower tumours. Tumour depth was reduced for those who conducted skin self-examination 1-11 times during a recent year (OR 0·39; 95% CI 0·18-0·81), but was not influenced by seeing a doctor, or by conducting skin self-examination and seeing a doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of a deeper tumour and possibly risk of melanoma were reduced by skin self-examination 1-11 times annually. Melanoma risk was markedly reduced by skin self-examination coupled with a doctor visit. We cannot, however, exclude the possibility that our findings reflect bias or confounding. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the potential benefits of skin self-examination for melanoma prevention and early detection.
Authors: M A Richard; J J Grob; M F Avril; M Delaunay; J Gouvernet; P Wolkenstein; P Souteyrand; B Dreno; J J Bonerandi; S Dalac; L Machet; J C Guillaume; J Chevrant-Breton; C Vilmer; F Aubin; B Guillot; M Beylot-Barry; C Lok; N Raison-Peyron; P Chemaly Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2000-05-20 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: Jennifer L Schwartz; Timothy S Wang; Ted A Hamilton; Lori Lowe; Vernon K Sondak; Timothy M Johnson Journal: Cancer Date: 2002-10-01 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Nina Badertscher; Muriel Meier; Thomas Rosemann; Ralph Braun; Antonio Cozzio; Brigitte Tag; Michel Wensing; Ryan Tandjung Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2014-11-19 Impact factor: 2.655