Time to reconsider skin cancer-related follow-up visits

Abstract

BCC, cSCC and melanoma have very intense follow-up schedules, which are mostly based on expert opinion and on recurrence rates. We found that as the incidence of skin cancer rises it is followed by a three-to-eightfold larger number of follow-up consultations, depending on the type of skin cancer, which will seriously impact dermatological care capacity. A reconsideration and further evaluation of the follow-up schedules will be necessary to keep dermatological care accessible to all patients.