Melanoma in darker skin is often diagnosed later stage, and therefore patients face worse outcomes. Physicians receive limited teachings on diagnosing skin cancer. They receive even less on diagnosing in darker skin tones. Help fund an online, on demand, for credit, education program to help close the gap, and educate physicians on acral and subungal melanoma.
Donations to this program will be matched by CIBC up to $20,000 to help #CloseTheCareGap and ensure timely diagnoses for all melanoma and skin cancer patients.
Effective diagnosis in skins of color pose unique challenges over pale skin and to date has not been adequately addressed. With a lack of dermatologists in remote communities, and a shortage in major Canadian cities, family physicians are often relied on to diagnose melanoma and skin cancers. Unfortunately, front line physicians often lag in comfort in diagnosing melanoma and skin cancers, and are especially lacking in knowledge when it comes to patients with darker skin, which often results in delays or poorer prognostic outcomes. These additional barriers impact patient care through delays in referrals, diagnosis when seen by a specialist, and treatment outcomes due to more advanced pathology
In 2021 Melanoma Canada via the MDBriefcase platform offers an accredited eCME education program “Improving Patient Outcomes by Optimizing Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Management” which introduces an improved set of strategies for dealing with melanoma geared to family doctors that affords a foundation in these skills, but it represents only the beginning step to resolving issues common to best patient outcomes
In 2022 our hope is to launch two follow up courses focused solely on melanoma in darker skin:
Diagnosing and Treating Skins of Color in Melanoma for Physicians: A Case Study in Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM)
and;
Subungual Melanoma (SM)- Considerations for Screening and Diagnosis within Family Practice
Melanoma Canada is grateful for the support of CIBC. With a long history of supporting the cancer community, CIBC is champion for improving patient outcomes. CIBC recognizes the impact Melanoma Canada’s new physician education courses will make to #CloseTheCareGap. On World Cancer Day CIBC will match all donations to this program up to $20,000.
Melanoma Canada, thanks you, our generous supporters for helping us #CloseTheCareGap this World Cancer Day, and improve outcomes for Canadians with melanoma and skin cancer.
