MELANOMA PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION

In the absence of significant advances in non-surgical treatment of advanced malignant melanoma, efforts to reduce mortality must rely on earlier diagnosis of thinner lesions more likely to be cured by surgery, and also on primary prevention. early detection activities are in progress in many countries with varying levels of built-in audit of their efficacy. In general, however, it would appear that in most countries melanomas are currently detected and treated when they are thinner than was the case 10 years ago. Primary prevention activities are aimed mainly at encouraging sensible sun exposure. Measuring change in sun exposure habits of the public is difficult but surveys indicate that knowledge and attitude to sunburn and the desirability of a tanned skin has moderated over the past 10 years. There is as yet little evidence however that behaviour with regard to sun exposure has changed significantly.