Sun Exposure and Protection Behaviors among Long-term Melanoma Survivors and Population Controls

Abstract

Introduction Melanoma is considered a generally preventable cancer, with excessive ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure being a strong causal factor. UVR exposure following a melanoma diagnosis can be modified to reduce risk of second primary melanomas. The goal of this study was to compare measures of UVR exposure and protection behaviors between long-term melanoma survivors and controls. Methods Participants from a previously conducted case-control study were recruited for a cross-sectional survey. Melanoma cases were 25–59 years old at diagnosis; controls were age and sex matched. Participants were asked about UVR exposure and protection measures used in the past year and comparisons between melanoma survivors and controls were conducted using logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. Results A total of 726 (67.7%) long-term melanoma survivors and 657 (60.9%) controls completed the follow-up survey. Melanoma survivors were significantly less likely to report high sun exposure on a typical weekday (OR=0.72 [0.55–0.94]), sunburns (OR=0.40 [0.30–0.53]), or indoor tanning (OR=0.20 [0.09–0.44]) than controls; however high sun exposure on a typical weekend day was similar. Report of optimal sun protection behaviors were higher in melanoma survivors compared to controls. However, a few melanoma survivors reported indoor tanning, 10% reported intentionally seeking sun to tan, and 20% reported sunburns. Conclusion Although long term melanoma survivors reported healthier UVR exposure and protection behaviors compared to controls, a sizeable proportion still reported elevated sun exposure, sunburns, and suboptimal UVR protection behaviors. Impact Opportunities remain for improving sun protection to reduce future melanoma risk among melanoma survivors.

Clustering of prevention behaviours in patients with high‐risk primary melanoma

“…Because melanoma survivors are at significantly raised risk of further primary melanomas, engagement in sun protection is important to lower this risk as far as possible . Sun‐protective behaviour before and after the diagnosis of primary melanoma may also lower the risk of recurrence or progression, although some authors have questioned this because high sun exposure prior to the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma has been linked to improved rather than worsened prognosis in several but not all study populations .…”

“…KEYWORDS cancer, melanoma, oncology, primary prevention, secondary prevention, skin examination, sun protection 1 | BACKGROUND Because melanoma survivors are at significantly raised risk of further primary melanomas, 1 engagement in sun protection is important to lower this risk as far as possible. [2][3][4] Sun-protective behaviour before and after the diagnosis of primary melanoma may also lower the risk of recurrence or progression, 2,3 although some authors have questioned this because high sun exposure prior to the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma has been linked to improved rather than worsened prognosis in several but not all study populations. [5][6][7] Despite these various findings, all current clinical guidelines recommend educating melanoma patients about the need to avoid high sun exposure 8 and use adequate sun protection.…”

Comparison of quality of life among long-term melanoma survivors and non-melanoma controls: a cross-sectional study

“…[16] Approval for this study was granted by the University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board and the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System. We recruited participants from the Skin Health Study (SHS), a population-based case-control study conducted from 2004 to 2009 to assess indoor tanning use and risk of melanoma.…”

Utility of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio for predicting malignancy risk and prognosis in patients with dermatomyositis

“…We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients with DM seen in our department who had complete blood counts (CBC) within 5 months of DM diagnosis and prior to immunomodulatory therapy initiation. All patients met the Bohan and Peter DM diagnostic criteria or the Sontheimer criteria (amyopathic DM) . MADM was defined as malignancy diagnosis, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers, within 3 years of DM diagnosis.…”