Skin Cancer in the American Negro

Malignant Eccrine Poroma in an Elderly African-American Woman

“…It is well documented that the incidence of skin cancer is markedly lower in African Americans than in whites. 11,12 There is reportedly a 70‐fold difference in the incidence of skin cancer in African Americans as compared to whites as calculated from age‐adjusted National Cancer Institute survey data from 1978. 13 It is often rationalized that African Americans do not develop skin cancer because deep pigmentation is protective.…”

The Malignant Tumours of the Skin

“…IDIOPATHIC MULTIPLE H.saiOREHAGic SAECOMA (Kaposi). This condition is rare, occurs chiefly in males and is as frequent among negroes as among whites (Hazen and Freeman, 1950). The cause is unknown.…”

“…Malignant tumours of the skin are essentially the same in tropical as in sub-tropical and cold climates, although there is some variation in incidence, for example, the tendency to carcinomatosis increases with the number of sunlight hours. Also, basal cell carcinomata are rare in the dark races whereas squamous cell lesions are not so infrequent (ten Seldam, 1950 ;Hazen and Freeman, 1950). Dark races generally are much less affected than whites (Duany, 1952).…”

“…Generally speaking, basal cell carcinomata occur more commonly than squamous cell carcinomata, although in tropical areas, e.g., Indonesia (ten Seldam, 1950), and in dark-skinned races, the reverse appears to be the case (Hazen and Freeman, 1950). ASSOCIATED PREDISPOSING FACTORS. 1.…”