Abstract IA11: The War on Melanoma: Oregon’s early detection experiment

Abstract Early detection of melanoma has several advantages over treatment of late-stage disease. Cure rates are higher, disfigurement is reduced, both short-term and long-term side effects from unnecessary systemic therapies are avoided, and most importantly, a large number of lives of individuals who would never have responded to these treatments in the first place are saved. Early detection is also likely to reduce the overall cost of care because early-stage treatments are far less expensive than those used in advanced disease. Despite the potential benefits of screening and early detection, relatively few prospective interventional studies have been performed to objectively demonstrate effectiveness or quantify the effects. However, multivariate data do show that a basic awareness of skin health and appearance (not requiring specialized knowledge of melanoma features) is associated with early detection of melanoma. The purpose of the War on Melanoma research study is to prospectively test whether a statewide early-detection campaign can improve melanoma outcomes. We will compare three objective metrics before and after the intervention (the education campaign): (1) melanoma knowledge in the general public by survey of a representative population sample; (2) state cancer registry data on stage, mortality, etc.; and (3) cost information from an all-claims, all-payers database. We hypothesize that there will be an increase in melanoma-specific knowledge in the general public, an improved prognosis at the time of diagnosis, and a decrease in melanoma mortality in Oregon compared to two control states (Utah and Washington). We will also quantify the difference in cost of care for melanoma before and after the campaign and will determine if these costs are associated with knowledge levels and/or prognostic/mortality data. These results will provide a model for future early-detection campaigns in other states or for other cancers, by providing evidence for the impact of public health education. Citation Format: Sancy A. Leachman, Jodi Lapidus, Kemal Sonmez, Michael Heath, Brian Detweiler-Bedell, Jerusha Detweiler-Bedell, Elizabeth G. Berry, Elizabeth Stoos. The War on Melanoma: Oregon’s early detection experiment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Melanoma: From Biology to Target; 2019 Jan 15-18; Houston, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(19 Suppl):Abstract nr IA11.