Secondary prevention of cutaneous malignant melanoma.

The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma continues to increase in most parts of the world. Survival rates for melanoma patients show a striking difference between those diagnosed with thin primary tumours, and those whose tumours are only 2 mm thicker at the time of excision. This fact together with the poor response rates to current non-surgical therapies makes a clear case for earlier diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. Campaigns aimed at both early diagnosis (secondary prevention) and also at primary prevention of cutaneous malignant melanoma are discussed and methods of their evaluation considered.