Interventions needed to improve surgery access in melanoma

Source: Healio, July 2019

To improve the rate of melanoma survival, targeted health care interventions are needed for certain patients who experience the most delays in surgical care, according to researchers.

“Equalizing the surgical interval for nonwhite patients could be a step in improving melanoma care for all patients, regardless of skin color,” Howa Yeung, MD,assistant professor from the department of dermatology at Emory University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote.

The interval between diagnosis and receipt of treatment is a key determinant of melanoma survival, according to the National Cancer Database (NCDB).