Clinical Forum Recap Data Show Melanoma Site to Be Independent High-Risk Factor for Recurrence, Poor Outcomes
Source: Pharmacy Times, February 2023
In 2022, approximately 3.3 million individuals in the United States received a diagnosis of melanoma, according to Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA, director of pharmacy cancer care services and an assistant professor at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Furthermore, basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer, with approximately 80% of patients with skin cancer receiving this diagnosis, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common.
Soefje further explained that incidence of melanoma is increasing. For many cancers, the population is increasing whereas incidence is decreasing. But melanoma is unique in that it’s the other way around: Incidence is increasing over time. Soefje noted this may indicate that melanoma will be a more significant burden than it is today.
“Generally, [melanomas are] curable if they’re caught early. And our surgeons are really good about removing them. However, when they advance to locally advanced disease or they become metastatic, that’s when we have to start thinking about systemic therapies, and pharmacy gets involved,” Soefje said.