title: "Better do not touch" and other superstitions concerning melanoma: the cross-sectional web-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To the authors' best knowledge, there are no data regarding the prevalence of superstitions concerning melanoma among internet users.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence and identify reasons for superstitions associated with excision of pigmented skin lesions as well as to assess the frequency of this procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Readers of the scientific portal were invited to complete a fully anonymous e-questionnaire. After collection of questionnaires (5,154) and eliminating incomplete ones, 4,919 surveys were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4,104 (83.4%) respondents have been aware that the total surgical excision is the only efficient way of melanoma treatment. This familiarity was related to increased skin cancer awareness but was not linked to regular skin self-examination. Over half of the surveyed agreed that "it is better not to touch naevi". Moreover, 3,510 (71.3%) individuals believed that naevi located in "harmed places" may turn into melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Superstitions associated with surgical treatment of melanoma are widespread. Conducting educational campaigns is necessary, particularly among young people, whose dangerous tanning behaviours are important risk factors for melanoma occurrence in their later life.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Oncology Ward, Starkiewicz Specialised Hospital, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland.
authors.forename: Maksymilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajda
authors.affiliation: The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kamińska-Winciorek
authors.affiliation: Department of Conventional and Intraoperative Radiotherapy, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wydmański
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tukiendorf
keywords: awareness; cross-sectional survey; melanoma; superstitions; surgery