Melanoma is the most dangerous of skin cancers, and now a new tool claims to help people over 40 calculate their risk of developing it in the next 3.5 years.
Created by researchers at Australia's QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the online risk predictor works with accumulated data from 42,000 people aged between 40 to 70 years of age in the world's largest study of skin cancer.
SEE ALSO:Google is learning how to predict heart disease by looking at your eyesThe tool's results are determined from a person's age, sex, ability to tan, number of moles at age 21, number of skin lesions treated, hair colour and sunscreen use. From there, the tool will classify you as one of five risk groups, from very much below average to very much above average.
It makes sense the tool was developed in Australia — the country has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, and it is Australia's third most common cancer.
"This online risk predictor will help identify those people with the highest likelihood of developing melanoma so that they and their doctors can decide how to best manage their risk," lead researcher Professor David Whiteman said in a statement.
Credit: QIMR BerghoferAlthough there have been other melanoma risk calculators, the researchers say these were based on different study designs and are less accurate. The effectiveness of QIMR's melanoma prediction tool have been published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
"We have tested our online risk predictor thoroughly and found that it is accurate at predicting a person’s risk of developing melanoma," Whiteman added.
"Nonetheless, people should be aware that the tool provides only an estimate of future risk and it is not a substitute for getting their skin checked by a doctor.
"We encourage people to use it as a general guide, and if it says you have a high risk of melanoma, we strongly encourage you to visit your doctor and discuss whether a skin check would benefit you."
Remember to stay safe in the sun, silly.
TopicsHealth
(责任编辑：時尚)
Pokémon Go is so big that it has its own VR porn parody now
China may ban Bitcoin trading, but the market doesn't seem to care
Hey Apple, calling your retail stores 'town squares' is a little much
Sustainable company is turning cigarette butts and smartphones into furnitureWhatsApp announces plans to share user data with Facebook'Rocket League' Championship Series Season 2 offers $250,000 prize pool
Rocket League
。's competitive scene is just getting started.
。The
。 Rocket League。Championship Series i
...[详细]Apple iOS 11 has a hidden security feature that cops will hate
The iPhone X is coming, and with it a shiny new iOS for legions of Apple fans to excitedly pore over
...[详细]JetBlue offers $99 flights for evacuees returning to Florida
As one of the strongest storms to ever hit Florida's southwest coast, Hurricane Irma prompted thousa
...[详细]Even Jennifer Lawrence was 'shaken' after seeing 'mother!'
Reactions to Jennifer Lawrence's new movie, mother!, seem to be all over the map, and no one quite s
...[详细]Tributes flow after death of former Singapore president S.R. Nathan
The Singaporean government has announced that former president, 92-year-old Sellapan Ramanathan (wid
...[详细]What the iPhone X means for the iPhone 11
This is no ordinary iPhone year.After three years of dual-release events -- where Apple would launch
...[详细]So how worried should we be about Apple's Face ID?
The eyes may be the window to the soul, but your face is almost certainly the door to your wallet. O
...[详细]Rami Malek channels Freddie Mercury playing 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' Brian May approves
Queen fans, get ready for a crazy little thing to love.Rami Malek, who plays the late Freddie Mercur
...[详细]One of the first Apple computers ever made is currently up for auction.A rare "Celebration" Apple-1
...[详细]JetBlue offers $99 flights for evacuees returning to Florida
As one of the strongest storms to ever hit Florida's southwest coast, Hurricane Irma prompted thousa
...[详细]Visualizing July's astounding global temperature records
'Darkest Hour' review: Gary Oldman shines in WWII drama
