June health news: Scalp and neck skin cancers are deadliest

People with melanoma on their scalps and necks are twice as likely to die from it than those who discover skin cancer on other parts of their body, according to a new study.

After reviewing 51,704 American cases of melanoma diagnosed between 1992 and 2003, scientists concluded that those with lesions on the scalp and neck have a fatality rate 1.84 times higher than those with melanoma that started on their face, ears or extremities, which have the best prognosis.

"We don't know why they are the most dangerous," says Dr. Nancy Thomas, the study's senior author, associate professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina and member of the UNC Lineburger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"One possibility is that the melanomas are different, they have different mutations. The other possibility is the environment they're growing in; the scalp is very vascular [rich in blood vessels], and maybe they spread more easily for that reason." The study appeared in the April issue of the journal Archives of Dermatology.

How to catch skin cancer on your neck and scalp early
Delayed diagnosis of scalp and neck skin cancers is another issue. "Our study does indicate that scalp melanomas are being diagnosed when they're thicker, which has public health implications," explains Thomas.

In fact, a recent survey by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that more than 90 per cent of dermatologic surgeons had seen at least one case a year of skin cancer than went undetected.

Thomas says self-awareness is the first step to staying healthy. "Knowing what you have on your scalp, if you have some moles there, knowing if they're stable, and knowing what's new, and if something's new then having it checked out."

Make sure your physician or dermatologist looks at your scalp, which is a difficult area to check, especially if you have thick hair. And, if you've been visiting the same hairdresser or barber for years, ask them if they see something new. "Hairdressers are not trained to make diagnoses, but they can certainly tell you if something is unusual or new," says Thomas.

Click to continue...

Page 1 of 2