NICE publishes new guideline on melanoma

NICE has published its first guideline on melanoma which aims to reduce the numbers of people dying from the disease, and addresses the wide variations across the country in diagnosis and treatment.

Melanoma is the third most common skin cancer in the UK and accounts for more cancer deaths than all other skin cancers combined.

The new NICE guideline focuses on assessing and managing melanoma, working out how far it has progressed (staging), identifying treatments for each stage of the disease, including when the cancer has spread, and outlines the best follow-up care after treatment.  

Commenting on the new guideline, professor Mark Baker, Centre for Clinical Practice director at NICE, said, "Melanoma causes more deaths than all other skin cancers combined. Its incidence is rising at a worrying rate - faster than any other cancer. If it is caught early, the melanoma can be removed by surgery. If it is not diagnosed until the advanced stages, it may have spread, so it is harder to treat. However, there are a number of options available to help slow the progress of the disease and improve quality of life. "This new guideline addresses areas where there is uncertainty or variation in practice, and will help clinicians to provide the very best care for people with suspected or diagnosed melanoma, wherever they live."

The new guideline is available at: http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng14