Medical Experts Unsure Of Safety, Effectiveness Of Full-Body Skin Cancer Screening

Unfortunately, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has found that there is not enough evidence to distinguish between benefits and harms between this visual full-body screening and regular cancer screenings. The task force said that opting for screening could be considered as a sensible decision for
those having a history of skin cancer or showing symptoms that point towards melanoma. According to a new report, a panel of health experts have showed uncertainty about the benefits of full-body visual screenings for skin cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services declared they are not completely sure whether full-body screening procedures to identify cancer, are safe or efficient to decrease the number of deaths from the disease. Melanoma, which represents two percent of diagnosed skin cancers, is found in about 68,000 people per year, killing more than 9,200. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force remains entirely unconvinced as to the effectiveness and safety of routine full-body skin cancer screenings, citing a distinct lack of a real evidence as to their value. Researchers analyzed information and data from 15 articles and 13 previous studies on melanoma, health outcomes of patients, screenings to look for answers of several questions in order to determine whether full body visual screening is effective in reducing mortality rate from the disease. The researchers after evaluation noted that although a small reduction in the number of deaths was registered there was no other significant difference in increase in mortality among the participants of the research. The guidelines are vital as they are used to determine whether insurance will pay for screenings and treatments and primary care physicians also follow them. He comments, "The Task Force is dedicated to helping Americans avoid skin cancer and lead healthy lives". Researchers could not evaluate between more frequent or thorough screenings concluding that no immediate statement could be written about the harms or benefits of skin cancer screenings for melanoma. "Until we have more research to better understand the balance of benefits and harms of a clinical visual skin exam, we encourage patients to talk to their doctor about any concerns they have about their skin", said Task Force member Michael P. Pignone, M.D., M.P.H. They advised that a study on the efficacy of targeted screening should be carried out in the future to identify its impact on individuals who are at high risk of developing skin cancer.


Source: http://postoracle.com/2015/