do more black people die from skin cancer than white people?

Question

My friend claims this is true, but I don't believe it?
Please explain, why or why not?

Answer 1

Your friend is incorrect. African Americans seldom get skin cancer. First of all, they usually don't sun bathe like Caucasian people do and second, their skin contains "melanin" which acts as a protectant. It occurs in African American skin naturally. Now this does NOT mean that African Americans can just be out in the sun without a worry. EVERYONE needs to use sunscreen--no matter what your skin color/ethnic background. Anyone can get skin cancer. And the type that African Americans get the most (when they do get skin cancer) is the most dangerous type--squamous cell carcinoma .

Here is more information:

http://www.skinandaging.com/article/2547

http://netwellness.org/question.cfm/38986.htm

Answer 2

Skin cancer tends to be more deadly in blacks, while whites still tend to get it more. This is because it may go undetected in blacks. For example, the artist Bob Marley died of skin cancer that went undetected and then spread to other parts of his body. It started on his foot then spread to other organs because he did not suspect skin cancer thinking that it is a white disease. Blacks should have there skin, especially the feet checked for skin cancer. This information came from my dermatologist. I had no idea.

Here's a link to an old USA Today article about this:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-06-20-skin-cancer_x.htm

Answer 3

Whites are 10 times more likely than blacks to develop melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer. But studies suggest more than half of melanoma cases in blacks involve the foot, where late diagnosis leads to a higher death rate.

Routine foot self exams increase the likelihood of noticing suspicious moles, freckles or other spots. There's more on this at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons http://FootPhysicians.com Web site.

Answer 4

I always thought it was the other way around. I thought more blondes died from skin cancer than any other group.

Answer 5

really im not sure and im black but from the looks from stats since white people get more sunburns that develop skin cancer, i think its the other way around... (no disrespect) and since im black, black people dont sit in the sun.... we run away because we dont want to get any darker! kudos to me because im brownskin... lol but seriously... jus look it up

Answer 6

Everyone Is the same