Improved Skin Cancer Survival Rates

A recent report has highlighted the improvement in survival rates among victims of skin cancer. This is good news, especially since 1,200 people a year in Scotland are diagnosed with malignant melanoma.

The report says that most men and women in Scotland who are victims of skin cancer will now survive the disease.

The recent report is extremely positive with the survival rates and has revealed how eight out of ten men and almost nine out of ten women in Scotland are victims of a highly severe form of skin cancer. And these people will now survive the disease, according to the new report.

Researchers said that these success rates are certainly due to improved awareness of the symptoms, early diagnosis and evolved treatment methods.

Dr Tim Crook, a consultant medical oncologist and scientist at the University of Dundee, “Forty years ago, only around half of those diagnosed with skin cancer were surviving,” he said. “Eight out of ten is a massive improvement, but clearly we can’t stop there.”

“The earlier cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat it and the more likely the treatment is to be successful. That’s why it’s important to get to know your skin and if you notice anything unusual, such as a change to a mole or a blemish that hasn’t healed after a few weeks, then get it checked by your GP,” said Linda Summerhayes, spokeswoman for charity Cancer Research UK in Scotland.

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Source-Medindia