Online test latest tool to detect melanoma

RESEARCHERS have developed a simple online test for people aged 40 and over to predict their risk of developing melanoma in the next few years.

The test, to be launched today, is based on questionnaires involving about 40,000 Queenslanders, known as the QSkin study, including more than 650 people diagnosed with a melanoma during the research period.

It calculates a person’s likelihood of developing melanoma in the next 3 ½ years based on risk factors such as age, gender, ability to tan, hair colour, sunscreen use and number of moles at age 21.

The test is described by codeveloper David Whiteman, of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, as about 70 per cent accurate, much higher than similar tools used to determine breast and bowel cancer risk.

Prof Whiteman has been working on the melanoma prediction test for eight years.

In the next few years, he hopes to add DNA data from blood analysis involving the QSkin participants to improve the predictive value of the online tool. But he says no test is ever likely to be 100 per cent accurate.

The goal is for patients eventually to be able to go to their GP, complete the online test and provide a blood sample for an assessment of their melanoma risk.

“This tool is about helping people understand what their risk is … and in case there are any early melanomas that can be picked up before they’ve spread,” Prof Whiteman said.

The online test is at: qi mrberghofer. edu. au/ melanomariskpredictor