Comparison of cutaneous malignant melanoma in two European countries

This paper presents a brief description of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), including the relevant epidemiology before contrasting and comparing this particular cancer in Scotland and Norway. This is a cancer of increasing incidence worldwide, with over 92 000 cases reported in 1985, representing 1.2% of the total cancer burden (Boyle et al 1995). Although there have been advances in treatment with innovative approaches such as immunotherapy and gene therapy, metastatic melanoma remains largely incurable and accounts for 5000 deaths every year (Jensen et al 1990). The relevance of cancer epidemiology to the cancer nurse, with particular reference to this type of skin cancer, is also highlighted as an awareness of these issues can enable nurses to apply this knowledge to the main phases of their work in cancer prevention and care.