Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, poses the greatest risk to women younger than 50 who are either pregnant or gave birth within one year of being diagnosed with the disease, researchers from Cleveland Clinic revealed in a new study.
The researchers said that these women are five times more likely to die, nine times more likely to experience a recurrence and almost seven times more likely to suffer from metastasis. Pregnancy hormones could be a factor that's driving these results, they added.
For the study, the researchers analyzed information from a database of medical records and studied the cases of 462 women who developed cutaneous melanoma at 49 years old or younger from 1998 to 2012. All diagnosis was confirmed with a biopsy. They excluded those who were not followed up for two years or more.
The team observed "worse prognoses and outcomes" in women who developed melanoma during pregnancy compared to other women.
"The rate of metastasis, recurrence and death in our findings were astounding -- as the rates were measurably higher in women who were diagnosed with melanoma while pregnant, or within one year after delivery," Dr. Brian Gastman, director of melanoma surgery at Cleveland Clinic and lead researcher of the study, said in a press release.
With melanoma cases increasing in the last 30 years, preventing skin cancer is more important than ever. The researchers emphasized that women below 50, especially those who are pregnant, should be more vigilant in skin cancer prevention and observing for changing skin lesions.
"The increasing incidence of melanoma for women younger than 50 years suggests that regular skin checks and self-examinations are warranted," the researchers wrote. "In addition, in women given the diagnosis of melanoma during or within 1 year after childbirth, regular follow-up and monitoring for recurrence are recommended."
The American Academy of Dermatology says that people should stay in shaded areas, use an SPF 30 or higher water-resistant sunscreen and wear protective clothing. It advises against the use of tanning beds, which it says can increase the risk of melanoma.
The study was published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
