Living alone aggravates skin cancer risk
Wednesday April 2nd, 2014
Men who live alone face the greatest risk from the skin cancer melanoma, according to a new study.
The
findings suggest that single men lose the benefit of having a partner
able to alert them to dangerous changes to the skin.
The Swedish researchers found a similar problem affecting elderly women who live alone.
The findings come from a study of more than 27,000 melanoma patients diagnosed in Sweden over a 17 year period, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The researchers found that men living alone were 31% more likely to die of the disease than others - and that the cancer was at a more advanced stage when they were diagnosed than found in other patients.
Researcher Dr Hanna Eriksson, of the Karolinska Institutet, said: “This points to a need for targeted interventions for earlier detection of cutaneous malignant melanoma in men and older individuals since this is critical for surviving the disease.
"By way of example, procedures are needed for skin examinations of these patients in connection with other doctor visits or check-ups."
Later stage at diagnosis and worse survival in cutaneous malignant melanoma among men living alone: a nationwide population-based study from Sweden. Journal of Clinical Oncology 31 March 2014; doi:10.1200/JCO.2013.52.7564
Tags: Cancer | Dermatology | Europe | General Health
Printer friendly page