What are the main reliable and academically accepted sources of information regarding skin cancer, such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)?

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From the Guidelines

The most reliable and academically accepted sources of information regarding skin cancer include the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), American Cancer Society (ACS), Skin Cancer Foundation, and government health organizations like the National Cancer Institute (NCI). These organizations provide evidence-based guidelines for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various skin cancers including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. The NCCN specifically offers comprehensive clinical practice guidelines that are regularly updated by panels of experts and widely used by oncologists and dermatologists for treatment decisions, as seen in their 2019 guidelines for cutaneous melanoma 1. These guidelines cover everything from screening recommendations to detailed treatment protocols including surgical approaches, radiation therapy options, and systemic treatments like immunotherapies and targeted therapies for advanced cases.

Some of the key resources for skin cancer information include:

  • Skin cancer prevention and early detection from the American Cancer Society, available at: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003184-pdf.pdf 1
  • SPOT skin cancer from the American Academy of Dermatology, available at: http://aad.org/spot-skin-cancer 1
  • Prevention Guidelines from the Skin Cancer Foundation, available at: http://www.skincancer.org/prevention 1 These sources are considered authoritative because they base their recommendations on rigorous scientific research, clinical trials, and expert consensus, ensuring that information is both current and clinically relevant for healthcare providers and patients seeking accurate skin cancer information. The NCCN's guidelines, for example, have been significantly revised in recent years to reflect emerging data on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies and BRAF-targeted therapy 1.

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From the Research

Reliable Sources of Information

The main reliable and academically accepted sources of information regarding skin cancer include:

  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) [ 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
  • American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) [ 3, 5 ]
  • American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) [ 3 ]
  • American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) [ 4 ]
  • European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology [ 5 ]

Guidelines and Recommendations

These organizations provide guidelines and recommendations for the management of skin cancer, including:

  • Risk stratification and treatment options for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) [ 2 ]
  • Management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and BCC [ 3 ]
  • Definition of high-risk and advanced cSCC [ 5 ]
  • Surgical treatment and safety margins [ 5 ]
  • Definitive and adjuvant radiotherapy [ 5 ]
  • Systemic treatments [ 5 ]

Key Studies

Key studies that provide information on skin cancer management include:

  • A comparative analysis of US guidelines for the management of cSCC and BCC [ 3 ]
  • A review of high-risk features of cutaneous SCC and discrepancies between the AJCC and NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines [ 4 ]
  • An overview of guideline recommendations for the management of high-risk and advanced cSCC [ 5 ]

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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