Diagnoses of melanoma are double what they were in 1986, an increase greater than that of any other major cancer. Many dermatologists believe that melanoma is becoming more common and recommend regular skin cancer screening. However, some say that the numbers do not indicate a melanoma epidemic, but a skin cancer screening epidemic. A new study supports this idea.
No Change in Death Rate
Researchers found that since 1986, skin biopsies have risen at the same rate as the incidence of early-stage melanoma. However, there has been no change in either the melanoma death rate or the incidence of advanced stages of the disease.
If there really was an epidemic of melanoma, there should be increases at all stages of the cancer, as there was with smoking-caused lung cancer.
Study Causes Controversy
Other scientists disagreed with the interpretation of the data, arguing it demonstrated that screening prevents melanoma from reaching advanced stages. But many found the study convincing and argued that dermatologists have been diagnosing melanoma too freely and removing innocuous moles.
