For early detection programs to be successful the public's awareness of the risks for and the consequences of undetected cancer must be enhanced. Early detection requires effective and efficient cancer screening methods which must be convenient, reliable, and economical. Developing and promoting these techniques, implementing strategies to make them widely available must assume paramount. In the following we shall discuss screening as applied to four major malignancies which commonly affect Floridians. Melanoma Melanoma is a major health concern in Florida, with a rapidly rising incidence.
Untreated melanoma is uniformly lethal.
As mortality is directly correlated to the depth of tumor invasion it is imperative that these skin cancers be caught early. In order to do so, a meticulous skin exam by a competent physician is a must, including non-sun exposed sites. Melanoma arising on the scalp, palms and soles, and oral mucosa may be overlooked. When performing self-examinations individuals will need to recruit someone to inspect their back, back of legs, and genital creases. When examining skin lesions, characteristics to be determined include asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation or enlarging diameter.