Skin cancer screening and prevention in primary health care setting: a pilot program in Delhi, India

Abstract

Skin cancer is classified as the most common type of cancer worldwide and is also one of the most preventable cancers. As per Global Cancer Statistics, melanoma skin cancer and non- melanoma skin cancer were the 19th and the 5th most frequently occurring cancers respectively worldwide in 2018. It is evidenced that most countries do not have a population- based cancer registry and those nations which do, usually do not account for skin cancers which implies probable underestimation of skin cancer burden. Skin cancer treatment availability, accessibility and cost vary throughout the world and substantially contribute to increased clinical and economic burden quantifiable in terms of lack of timely diagnosis, under-diagnosis, misdiagnosis, advanced medical care requirement and life-years lost. In India, skin cancer statistics are undocumented, however, it is estimated that skin malignancy represents about 1-2% of all cancer diagnoses; accurate statistical data associated with skin cancer is scarce due to lack of regulations to report any disease-specific death or diagnosis. Skin cancer is classified as the most common type of cancer worldwide and is also one of the most preventable cancers. As per Global Cancer Statistics, melanoma skin cancer and non- melanoma skin cancer were the 19th and the 5th most frequently occurring cancers respectively worldwide in 2018. It is evidenced that most countries do not have a population- based cancer registry and those nations which do, usually do not account for skin cancers which implies probable underestimation of skin cancer burden. Skin cancer treatment availability, accessibility and cost vary throughout the world and substantially contribute to increased clinical and economic burden quantifiable in terms of lack of timely diagnosis, under-diagnosis, misdiagnosis, advanced medical care requirement and life-years lost. In India, skin cancer statistics are undocumented, however, it is estimated that skin malignancy represents about 1-2% of all cancer diagnoses; accurate statistical data associated with skin cancer is scarce due to lack of regulations to report any disease-specific death or diagnosis.