Experience of a public education programme on early detection of cutaneous malignant melanoma

A public education campaign is described which aimed at encouraging earlier self recognition and thus treatment of cutaneous malignant melanoma. The unique aspect of this campaign was that the changes in the numbers of referrals of patients with melanomas and the changes in the hospital workload associated with this programme were quantified. In the calendar year of the campaign and the following year a statistically significant rise was seen in the percentage of thin melanomas with a good prognosis that were treated and a concomitant significant fall in the proportion of thick lesions with a poor prognosis.