Full body examination for skin cancer advised by experts

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 25 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT


Researchers suggest that a full body examination be done when it comes to screening for skin cancer. Most skin cancers are easy to spot in the early stages of development. But cancers arising in difficult-to-see areas of the body -- such as the back or bottom -- are often missed by patients until they've progressed to a more dangerous stage.

According to researchers who surveyed about 250 patients in dermatology or general medicine clinics, nearly 90 percent were willing to undergo a full-body skin examination in order to uncover early skin cancers. In this study, researchers asked patients whether they had ever undergone a full body exam to screen for skin cancer or if they would be willing to undergo one.

Only 32 percent said they regularly underwent such an exam (55 percent among those with previous skin cancers), but 87 percent said they would welcome the screening. Most patients were not concerned about having a screening done by a physician of the opposite sex.

Thus researchers say based on their findings it was observed that there was a high level of patient acceptance to go through with a full body examination so as to pick up early cancers.

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