Did you know that there is a severe lack of dermatologists to treat and diagnose skin cancer in the U.S. today? Because of this, if you suspect you have a cancerous mole, you may have to wait weeks or months to see one, and by then it may be too late.
MSNBC.com reports that in 2006, two researchers at the University of California conducted an experiment to prove this shortage. Posing as worried patients, they phoned dermatologists across the country for an appointment to have a suspicious mole checked out. The average wait time was 38 days. in some cities, such as Boston, the wait was as long as 73 days. that would give plenty of time for an aggressive cancer to turn fatal.
Jack Resneck Jr., M.D., one of the study?s authors, said there are two reasons behind the long wait. first, there are simply not enough skin specialists in the United States to keep up with the growing population, especially the millions of aging baby boomers. Second, those older boomers were sun worshippers and were not aware of the dangers of tanning. Dr. Resneck said, ?They grew up in an era before people really knew to use sunscreen.? Today there are more than 3.5 million annual cases of skin cancer, making it the country?s most common malignancy.
Options Beyond Dermatologists for Timely Skin Cancer Treatment
The major factor behind our nation?s shortage of dermatologists is lack of Medicare funding for training new doctors and a limited amount of residencies available in hospitals. even if Medicare funding were increased today, it would take years for new dermatologists to enter the workforce.
To remedy this lack of timely care, some alternatives have been proposed, such as training medical assistants or nurses to perform skin checks, as well as providing more dermatology education to family doctors. another option the researchers suggested is the usage of telemedicine, which involves sending medical information and detailed photos of suspicious moles by Internet to dermatologists, thereby speeding up diagnosis and allowing more patients to be assessed.
However, considering that this dangerous situation is not going to change anytime soon, what can you do to protect yourself? Dr. Resneck advises limiting sun exposure, using an SPF 30 sunscreen, and calling a dermatologist immediately if you notice any of the warning signs of skin cancer. Given the difficulty of getting to see one, you should try to get your primary care physician to help.
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Source: http://www.dailyrosetta.com/dermatologist-shortage-affects-skin-cancer-treatment/29686.html
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