title: Melanoma screening: results of the first one-day campaign in Belgium ('melanoma Monday').
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the incidence of melanoma is increasing and many informative campaigns have been organized. The general population is still little informed about this tumour.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To organize a media campaign, with more relevant information and the opportunity for free skin inspections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 'Task Force' organized a media campaign in April 1999 and convinced 65% of the Belgian dermatologists to give up 4 h of their time to do free skin examinations for skin cancer on Monday 26 April 1999; it was called 'Melanoma Monday'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total 2767 patients were screened. We found 25 melanomas and suspected 59 basal cell carcinomas. In the following 4 weeks another 141 melanomas were found. These 166 melanomas found in one month represent 15-20% of the total number of melanomas per year in Belgium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A media campaign with relevant information combined with screening opportunities can lead to the early detection of melanomas in a large number of patients and can continue to alert people at risk in the following weeks.
authors.affiliation: mark.vandaele@skynet.be
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vandaele
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richert
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Van der Endt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boyden
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brochez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: del Marmol
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Boulle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garmyn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laporte
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maselis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pirard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roseeuw
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schramme
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tromme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*