Experts Unsure About Benefits of Skin Cancer Screening

Experts are still unsure whether current full-body screening procedures for skin cancer are safe or effective at preventing or lowering the numbers of deaths from the disease.

According to the United Press International, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has announced that current evidence is still insufficient to precisely assess the perceived benefits and harms of a full-body visual exam used to determine melanoma skin cancer in adults.

As such, they did not release a for or against recommendation for the said screening procedure.

The Task Force carefully looked at various data from 13 studies and 15 articles regarding melanoma, screening and health outcomes. The data were sought to answer questions whether full-body visual screening did help reduce death rates from the disease or not.

All of these studies and articles came from various sources including MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials.

Although there was a small reduction the number of deaths, the researchers found no significant decrease in death rates related to the disease and the screening procedure.

Additionally, the researchers found that skin cancer screening can cause potential harm to patients, which includes poor cosmetic results from unnecessary biopsies and scarring or other damages affecting feeling or range of motion.

The Task Force was also unable to precisely determine the effects of more frequent screenings for the disease. They said in the report that due to the limited number of evidence on the procedure's effects, “a clear statement cannot be made about the benefit of skin cancer screening for melanoma mortality and all-cause mortality or association with thinner lesions.”

In a press release, Task Force member Michael P. Pignone, M.D., M.P.H., said “The Task Force is dedicated to helping Americans avoid skin cancer and lead healthy lives.”

“Until we have more research to better understand the balance of benefits and harms of a clinical visual skin exam,” he continued, “we encourage patients to talk to their doctor about any concerns they have about their skin,”

For now, the Task Force suggests minimizing exposure to ultraviolet rays. One of the best ways to do this is to reduce time spent in activities under direct sunlight, especially from noon until 3:00 p.m.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Melanoma is found in about 68,000 people annually, of which about 9,200 die. In 2015, an estimated 74,000 are affected by it, of which 9,940 are expected to die.