| Australian researchers have discovered that | | | | Formation of a break or sore in the skin.o Lack of |
| rapid-growing skin cancers show common | | | | pigment in the tumour.o Regular borders.o Elevation.o |
| characteristics. | | | | Symptoms. |
| Skin cancers or melanomas are more likely to grow | | | | They also noted that rapid-growing melanomas were |
| and spread quickly if they are thicker, symmetrical, | | | | more likely in people 70 years of age or older, in men |
| elevated and have regular borders or display certain | | | | in general, and in those with fewer moles and |
| symptoms, according to their study. | | | | freckles. |
| Wendy Liu from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center | | | | "We propose that this information on melanoma rate |
| in East Melbourne, Australia, with her colleagues, | | | | of growth be incorporated into education programs |
| examined the melanoma growth rate of 222 male | | | | for patients and health professionals," the report said. |
| patients and 182 female patients with an average | | | | By identifying faster-growing melanomas, experts |
| age of 54. | | | | hope aggressive cancers can be diagnosed and |
| The participants had their skin closely examined by a | | | | treated quickly. |
| dermatologist, and they were interviewed soon after | | | | Death rates have been on the decline globally since |
| diagnosis about when they first noticed the spot or | | | | public education campaigns were launched on |
| spots on their skin. | | | | detecting and treating slow-growing melanomas, |
| The researchers relied on the tumour's thickness at | | | | contended Dr. Dan Lipsker of Clinique Dermatologique |
| the time of removal to judge the rate of the | | | | in France. |
| cancer's growth. | | | | "The challenge in the coming years will be to do the |
| The study, appearing in the December issue of the | | | | same work for fast-growing tumors, and the work |
| Archives of Dermatology, found the fast-growing | | | | by Dr. Liu et al is a first step in that direction," Lipsker |
| skin cancers were linked to:o Tumour thickness.o | | | | wrote in the study's accompanying editorial. |