Source: Dermatology Times, May 2025
Key Takeaways
- Skin cancer in people of color is often diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in higher morbidity and mortality rates.
- Misconceptions about melanin’s protective benefits contribute to disparities in skin cancer diagnosis and outcomes.
- Medical education should integrate comprehensive training on skin cancer presentations in patients of color.
As a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, I spend most of my time treating skin cancer and reassuring patients as they face one of the scariest moments of their lives. Although this is a daily occurrence, some cases never leave your thoughts—even after clinic is over. One patient has never left my mind: A 50-year-old Black man who came to the emergency department because of a bleeding lesion on the bottom of his foot. By the time he was finally diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), the cancer had already metastasized.