Melanoma is a type of skin cancer and its incidence has been increasing worldwide (Ortiz, Goodwin, & Freeman, 2005). Even though melanoma is a highly treatable cancer in early stages (Culp, Robb, Bayakly, & Vena, 2015), the lack of awareness and screening of melanoma poses a serious challenge to public health (Harvey, Patel, Sandhu, Wallington, & Hinds, 2014). Although most diseases with an SES gradient show a high SES/low-risk relation, melanoma is believed to be one of the few diseases with a reverse SES gradient (i.e., low SES/low-risk; see Adler, 1994). This is partially correct. The SES gradient for melanoma is complicated because it is different between melanoma incidence and the severity (including the stage at diagnosis and mortality …show more content…
Most researchers would suggest that high SES individuals are more likely to show lifestyle risk factors, such exposure to natural sunlight and/or artificial UV light from tanning beds, due to the cultural norms to have tanned skin and participate in outdoor recreational activities (Idorn & Wulf, 2014; Culp et al., 2015). In a study conducted in Georgia, US, the researchers observed this inverse SES gradient in both non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) and, to a lesser extent, blacks (Culp et al., 2015). There is a lack of study on the correlation between SES and melanoma risk factors in other minorities in the US. Some researchers argue that other non-lifestyle risk factors might also have an important role in melanoma incidence. Specifically, the high incidence of melanoma among high SES individuals is due to higher biopsy rate related to better awareness and higher education background. More studies are needed in this area to support this claim (Idorn & Wulf, 2014; Idorn, …show more content…
Individuals from low SES backgrounds are often diagnosed with Stage 2+ (regional and metastatic) melanoma, and the mortality rate is also higher than those from high SES backgrounds (Ortiz et al., 2005; Idorn & Wulf, 2014; Culp et al., 2015; Harvey et al., 2015). Although biological factors such as advanced stages of melanoma at the time of diagnosis contribute to the high mortality rate among low SES individuals, we must also consider how the intersections of race and SES directly affect the mortality rate. For example, in the US blacks were less likely than NHWs to receive cancer treatment such as chemotherapy (Harvey et al., 2015). Furthermore, the post-treatment survival rate is lower for blacks (Collins et al., 2011).The reasons are poorly understood and more research is needed. Another study found that among older white males with Medicare (a social health care program for people who are 65 or older), prevalence of using chemotherapy to treat melanoma was lower in in patients living in low SES areas compared with patients living in high SES areas (Reyes-Ortiz, Goodwin, Zhang, & Freeman, 2011). Those with Medicaid (a social health care program for people with low income) experience worse outcomes than those with non-Medicaid insurance; a treatment outcome disparity has been found between publicly insured and privately insured individuals (Harvey et al.,