Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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Melanoma represents a significant and growing public health burden worldwide, especially in Caucasian populations. The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature on the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and incidence, stage at diagnosis and survival from melanoma. ⋯ Potential explanations for these findings are that high SES individuals may have a higher susceptibility and exposure (e.g., risk behaviors) for developing melanoma, and low SES individuals may have less access to educational campaigns and screening examinations and effective treatment. These differences reflect a disparity in melanoma outcomes across diverse SES populations in many countries.