The risk of having cutaneous melanoma increases for patients with a previously diagnosed cancer, according to a report, with the highest risk among patients with past diagnosis of melanoma.
Cutaneous melanoma is among the most aggressive forms of skin cancer and is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. men and the seventh most among most U.S. women, according to background information in the study, which appears in the December issue of the Archives of Dermatology. The incidence of CM is increasing, and death rates from the disease have not diminished significantly. The greatest risk factor for CM development is ultraviolet radiation exposure, although a patient's race and genetics affect the risk.
Geoffrey B. Yang, BS, a medical student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, and colleagues analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database (1988-2007) to understand the risk of cutaneous melanoma after a previous cancer. The study included 70,819 patients with CM as a first primary cancer (median age 54 at the time of melanoma diagnosis) and 6,353 patients with CM (median age 70 at the time of melanoma diagnosis) after a previous cancer.
The greatest number of melanomas developed among patients with a previous melanoma diagnosis, a finding consistent with other studies. Among patients younger than 45 at first cancer diagnosis, 777 developed cutaneous melanoma, with significantly higher risks among those with previous CM, other skin cancers, Kaposi sarcoma, female breast cancer and lymphoma. Patients 45 or older at first cancer diagnosis had significantly higher risk of developing CM after previous CM, other skin cancers, ocular melanoma, female breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and leukemia.
Characteristics associated with better survival in both cohorts included: female sex, age younger than 45 at melanoma diagnosis, being married, white vs. black race, decreasing Breslow depth, lack of tumor ulceration, no nodal involvement and absence of metastases.
"Given that cutaneous melanoma is the most common second primary cancer in patients with a first CM (a risk that remains elevated for over 15 years), our results suggest the need for continued skin surveillance in melanoma survivors," the authors concluded.
To read a study summary and access the study via subscription or purchase, visit http://bit.ly/uK3doo.
Cutaneous melanoma is among the most aggressive forms of skin cancer and is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. men and the seventh most among most U.S. women, according to background information in the study, which appears in the December issue of the Archives of Dermatology. The incidence of CM is increasing, and death rates from the disease have not diminished significantly. The greatest risk factor for CM development is ultraviolet radiation exposure, although a patient's race and genetics affect the risk.
Geoffrey B. Yang, BS, a medical student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, and colleagues analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database (1988-2007) to understand the risk of cutaneous melanoma after a previous cancer. The study included 70,819 patients with CM as a first primary cancer (median age 54 at the time of melanoma diagnosis) and 6,353 patients with CM (median age 70 at the time of melanoma diagnosis) after a previous cancer.
The greatest number of melanomas developed among patients with a previous melanoma diagnosis, a finding consistent with other studies. Among patients younger than 45 at first cancer diagnosis, 777 developed cutaneous melanoma, with significantly higher risks among those with previous CM, other skin cancers, Kaposi sarcoma, female breast cancer and lymphoma. Patients 45 or older at first cancer diagnosis had significantly higher risk of developing CM after previous CM, other skin cancers, ocular melanoma, female breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and leukemia.
Characteristics associated with better survival in both cohorts included: female sex, age younger than 45 at melanoma diagnosis, being married, white vs. black race, decreasing Breslow depth, lack of tumor ulceration, no nodal involvement and absence of metastases.
"Given that cutaneous melanoma is the most common second primary cancer in patients with a first CM (a risk that remains elevated for over 15 years), our results suggest the need for continued skin surveillance in melanoma survivors," the authors concluded.
To read a study summary and access the study via subscription or purchase, visit http://bit.ly/uK3doo.
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