Melanoma in Europe: North meets South, East meets West

Abstract

Melanoma incidence and the number of deaths have increased steadily in most European countries and the trend is expected to continue. However, the melanoma burden is unequally distributed across the Continent, with important variations of melanoma incidence, mortality and survival between European regions. According to recent estimates the incidence rates are nine-fold higher in Western than in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In contrast, mortality rates are fairly similar, whereas several countries in CEE report the lowest melanoma survival. As effective treatment in advanced stages of melanoma remains elusive, the high disparities in tumor burden and prognosis between European countries are likely related to the large differences of early detection and management of primary tumors. More accurate data on the epidemiological situation and the patterns of access to health care of melanoma patients in CEE countries are needed. Improving patients’ education for early detection and sun safety, enhancing physicians’ training and motivation together with implementation of functional systems of melanoma reporting and registration are priorities across the Continent.