The Value of Behavioral Counseling for Skin Cancer Prevention

Melanoma kills nearly 10 000 people in the United States each year. The more prevalent keratinocyte carcinomas, including basal and squamous cell carcinoma, cause less mortality but contribute to health care costs and can cause substantial morbidity. While treatment options for advanced melanoma have improved over the past decade, primary and secondary prevention, through protection from UV radiation (UVR) and early self-detection, have the potential to reduce the incidence of advanced skin cancer. Importantly, these interventions come with little cost or risk to patients. The updated US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation statement and accompanying evidence report in the most recent issue of JAMA document the steady progress toward embracing strategies to reduce the burden of skin cancer and also reflect the important role that health-outcomes research plays in influencing policy.

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