**Author details**

recommend patients sun protective clothing such as sunglasses, hats or long sleeve clothing. Patients should be avoided direct exposure to the sunlight between 9 AM - 3 PM and tanning beds [174]. There is great concern in regard to the total amount of sun exposure during infancy and early childhood [175]. The importance of sun protection in childhood should be empha‐

Self-examination of skin by informed patients in terms of suspicious nevi is an important

Skin self examination has the potential to significantly reduce melanoma mortality. One retrospective study concluded that skin self examination has the potential to reduce melanoma mortality by 63% [179]. One study found that 44% of diagnosed recurrent melanoma was initially detected by patients based on symptoms that raised suspicion of metastasis [180]. For this reason, patients shoul be educated about the skin self examination. Patient education in skin self examination includes information on the warning signs of melanoma. Also it includes directions on how to perform a thorough whole-body skin examination [176]. Patients at higher risk should carefully examine their own skin monthly and also be frequently examined by

Older individuals are both more likely to acquire and to die from cutaneous melanoma; thus, elderly people should be a primary target for secondary melanoma prevention. We must be careful for the early detection and patient routine screening. Also secondary melanoma prevention should be focused on targeted education to older men and their spouses for early

Following the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma, all patients should be educated on the risks of developing a second primary melanoma. In addition, counselling on the common clinical characteristics of cutaneous melanomas and instruction on how to perform a skin self exami‐ nation should be provided. In the event of the development of new pigmented lesions or changes in preexisting pigmented lesions, patients should be advised to seek medical attention. In addition, appropriate lifelong follow-up surveillance is critical for the detection of thinner,

Most of the studies suggested that many cancer patients want to get detailed information about their disease, treatment options and prognosis of the disease. The most common complaint of these patients is not to told what is wrong with them, during the treatment. Cancer care professionals are beginning to recognize that patients' information needs and

With growing evidence that well-informed patients are more satisfied with their care and do better clinically. Efforts are needed to improve the information provision to melanoma patients. Exploration of the patients' personal information needs must lead to a more patienttailored approach of informing melanoma patients. A good opportunity would be the implementation of a survivorship care plan, which aims at providing a cancer survivor with a summary of their course of treatment, management of late effects, and strategies for health

detection and reduction of mortality in this extremely high-risk group [181].

contributory factor in the early diagnosis of melanoma [178].

dermatologists professionally [174].

more curable melanomas [182].

preferences [183].

promotion [184].

sized [176].

112 Highlights in Skin Cancer

Zekayi Kutlubay\* , Burhan Engin, Server Serdaroğlu and Yalçın Tüzün

\*Address all correspondence to: zekayikutlubay@hotmail.com

İstanbul University, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Dermatology, İstanbul, Turkey
