Racial Disparity in Melanoma Survival Among Non-Hispanic Black Patients

Abstract

Melanoma is widely considered as a malignancy of people with fairer skin. While the incidence of this aggressive form of skin cancer is significantly higher in non-Hispanic White populations than non-Hispanic Black populations, the melanoma survival rate among the Black population is astoundingly lower in comparison. Black patients have been found to be diagnosed with melanoma at later stages; however, survival rates are lower in the Black population at every stage of diagnosis compared to the White population. Several factors at play have been identified through the literature that could be influencing this disparity, including the differences in most common histological subtype, stages at diagnosis, socioeconomic status, health insurance, education level, and perception of risk among patients. A strong need exists for greater melanoma awareness and education among non-Hispanic Black patients as well as more frequent, thorough skin examinations by primary care physicians and dermatologists including acral regions.