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The Causes of Malignant Melanoma: Results from the West Australian Lions Melanoma Research Project

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Epidemiology of Malignant Melanoma

Abstract

In Australia malignant melanoma ranks forth among cancers as a cause of morbidity and premature death (Armstrong 1985). For this reason, and because the State of Western Australia has one of the highest incidence rates of melanoma in the world (Holman et al. 1980), we undertook a multidisciplinary research program embracing the epidemiology, histopathology, and clinical management of melanoma. A major component of our research was a population-based case-control study in which constitutional traits, sunlight exposure, hormones, diet and other possible causal factors were evaluated. We have already published several reports of the results relating to particular subject areas (Holman and Armstrong 1983, 1984 a, b; Holman et al. 1984 b, 1985; English et al. 1985). In this report we aim to bring together in summary form the key results of the project to date and to present new data on diet and other factors.

Supported by the Lions Club of Western Australia and the Cancer Foundation of Western Australia. CDJH was supported by a Medical Postgraduate Research Scholarship of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

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Abbreviations

HMF :

Hutchinson’s melanotic freckle

SSM :

superficial spreading melanoma

NM :

nodular melanoma

UCM :

unclassified melanoma

CMT :

cutaneous microtopography

UVR :

ultraviolet radiation

ROEP :

Recreational outdoor exposure proportion

OCP :

oral contraceptive preparations

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© 1986 Springer-Verlag Berlin · Heidelberg

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Holman, C.D.J. et al. (1986). The Causes of Malignant Melanoma: Results from the West Australian Lions Melanoma Research Project. In: Gallagher, R.P. (eds) Epidemiology of Malignant Melanoma. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 102. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-82641-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-82641-2_3

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