title: Melanoma early detection and awareness: how countries developing melanoma awareness programs could benefit from melanoma-proficient countries.
abstract: Risk factors for melanoma are well known and have guided plans for primary and secondary prevention. The presentation of the disease, however, varies widely depending on the geographic area, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. For this reason, many countries have developed specific strategies to increase public awareness and favor early diagnosis. Awareness campaigns, doctor education, and screening of high-risk subjects have all contributed to improve disease outcome in developed countries. The role of primary care physicians is particularly relevant in this regard. Developing countries are trying to implement similar measures. Future efforts to further improve the efficacy of preventive strategies should focus on populations that usually escape campaigns, such as elderly men and people with low socioeconomic status. Fast-growing tumors also require specific attention.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Minas Gerais, Brazil; 2Clinica Universitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; 3Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; 4Instituto de Oncologia Angel Rolfo, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 5Blokhin Cancer Center, Moscow, Russia; 6Hospital Sainte Marguerite, Marseilles, France; 7Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China; 8Newcastle University, Newcastle, Australia; 9Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain; 10Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; 11Melanoma Advisory Board South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa; 12Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada; 13University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany; 14M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wainstein
authors.forename: Salvador Martin
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Algarra
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastholt
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cinat
authors.forename: Lev
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demidov
authors.forename: Jean Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Grob
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hersey
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schachter
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quirt
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hauschild
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control