A health equity framework to address racial and ethnic disparities in melanoma

Abstract

Although melanoma is rare among racial and ethnic minority groups, patients from these groups are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from melanoma than their non-Hispanic White counterparts.1,2 Compared with non-Hispanic White populations, racial and ethnic minority groups are less knowledgeable about the appearance of melanoma, less likely to be aware of the importance of skin self-examinations, and less likely to have received skin examinations from their provider.3 The cascading effect of inadequate melanoma health literacy, misunderstood personal risk (ie, low risk does not equal to no risk), and delayed receipt of medical care may explain the greater burden of thicker primary tumors and more advanced stage at initial diagnosis in these patient populations.