A local education campaign on early diagnosis of malignant melanoma
| Autor: | Th. Dirschka, A. Hoffmann, M. Segerling, Klaus Hoffmann, Harald Schatz, Peter Altmeyer, Th. Tiemann |
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| Rok vydání: | 1993 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male medicine.medical_specialty Skin Neoplasms Adolescent Epidemiology Population Risk Factors Germany Surveys and Questionnaires medicine Humans Child education Health Education Melanoma Aged Aged 80 and over education.field_of_study business.industry Incidence Mortality rate Incidence (epidemiology) Public health Cancer Middle Aged medicine.disease Dermatology Surgery Carcinoma Basal Cell Child Preschool Female Skin cancer business |
| Zdroj: | European Journal of Epidemiology. 9 |
| ISSN: | 1573-7284 |
| Popis: | The growing incidence of all kinds of skin cancer is a worldwide phenomenon observed in the last decades. Malignant melanoma is of special concern because of its high death rate when in an advanced stage, poor therapeutic response and fast growing incidence. Malignant melanoma is primarily located on the skin and therefore well suited for early cancer detection. The "Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft" carried out a highly successful information campaign in Germany. Under this roof we organised different campaigns. Following considerable success in a campaign in 1989, a total of 1467 patients were examined and advised in the course of a local initiative (Education Campaign "Black cancer") in the city of Bochum (approximately 400,000 inhabitants) in the summer of 1991. In addition to full body examinations, important data were collected concerning the degree of knowledge about skin cancer, epidemiology, and the risk of skin cancer in general. As a result of the clinical examinations, 73 patients with strongly suspected skin cancer have been treated. Within this group, 14 malignant melanomas (1.0%) as well as 34 basal cell carcinomas (1.9%) were diagnosed. These numbers highly exceed the assumed risk incidence of skin cancer in Germany. Even on the assumption that the population was selective it is to be feared that a high number of individuals with skin cancer remain undetected and untreated. The majority of persons seeking advice had been motivated by the local media. The response and results of this local campaign indicate that further preventive measures for the general population in Europe are conceivable, meaningful and urgently needed. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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