A study conducted by the Archives of Dermatology making use of key figures and data from the Florida Cancer Data System has rendered what can only be described as an interesting find.
Even though Black and Latino people are significantly less likely to develop melanoma and other forms of skin related cancer, when they do contract the illness, it is often much worse than when contracted by those that do not have as much melanin.
Cases taken from the state of Florida, one of the sunniest states and home to significant Black and Latino populations, showed that 1,148 Hispanic and 254 Black cases respectively were among the 41,072 medical situations involving melanoma.
“The simple message is that even though Blacks and Hispanics are at lower risk, they can still get melanoma,” explained vice chairman of dermatology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center located at the University of Miami, Dr. Robert Kirsner, to media. “There seems to be a lack of awareness, so they’re diagnosed at a later stage.”
41,072 cases of melanoma were entered in Florida’s statewide cancer registry between 1990 and 2004, of which, the majority (39,670) was comprised on non-Hispanic white patients.
