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A new study found that Black men had higher rates of advanced melanoma compared to white men.
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Black men also had lower five-year survival rates for skin cancer.
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Here are some of the most important places for Black men to check for skin cancer.
A new study from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology has found some alarming statistics in how skin cancer is diagnosed in men across different racial groups.
In the study, published on Tuesday, nearly half of Black men were diagnosed when the disease was already in an advanced stage, compared to about one-in-five white men.
When caught early — in stage I or II — a melanoma lesion can be surgically removed because the cancer hasn't yet spread to a person's lymph nodes or distant organs. But later diagnosis involves more invasive treatments like immunotherapy or chemo, and it also cuts the chances of survival.
In the study, white men had the highest five-year survival rates (75.1%), compared to only about half of Black men (51.7%) who survived for five years after diagnoses.
One possible theory as to why they were diagnosed so late is the difference in how melanoma presents in Black men. While every other group in the study was more likely to have superficial spreading melanoma — the most common type of melanoma characterized by abnormal skin lesions — Black men were more likely to have acral melanoma, or melanoma on their hands or feet.
Below are three places that Black men should check for melanoma.
The soles of your feet
Melanated skin can filter up to twice as much UV light as lighter skin, which is why skin cancer is less common in people with darker skin tones.
However, the bottoms of your feet can be an unexpected place for melanoma to form.
Dr. Alexander Witkowski, an assistant professor of dermatology at the OHSU School of Medicine, previously told Insider that everyone "has the same amount of pigment in these limited areas, so the risk level is pretty much the same" for Black men as it is for white men.
The palms of your hands
Like the soles of the feet, palms have less melanin and are more at risk for developing skin cancer lesions.
Additionally, not all lesions are dark; Dr. Joanna Ludzik, an assistant professor of dermatology at the OHSU School of Medicine, previously said that "pink melanoma" can appear as a small pink or white spot. One sign is a spot shining under a light or mirror.
Nails and nailbeds
While melanoma is usually associated with asymmetrical moles, Witkowski and Ludzik said that it can also present as streaks in fingernails and toenails. For the most effective skin cancer screenings, it's important to remove nail polish before your visit.
The same melanoma warning signs still apply to everyone
No matter what race you are, melanoma can form anywhere on the body — including inside the mouth or on the eyeballs, according to Witkowski and Ludzik.
In addition to all the above, it's important to keep an eye on any unusual growths using the ABCDE method, especially if you experience itching or bleeding.
Read the original article on Insider
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