Latino Melanoma Patients Face Barriers to Early Diagnosis and Treatment
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Latino patients face multiple barriers to timely melanoma diagnosis, including language mismatch, insurance procedures, and limited awareness, new research suggests.
Patient advocacy and access to Spanish-language care were identified as facilitators of early diagnosis.
Structural and linguistic interventions are required to reduce disparities in melanoma survival, the authors wrote.
A new qualitative study published in JAMA Dermatology explored persistent disparities Latino patients face in timely melanoma diagnosis and treatment, despite advances in therapy that have improved survival among non-Hispanic White populations.
The authors noted mortality is disproportionately higher in Latino patients despite a lower incidence of melanoma compared to non-Hispanic White patients due to diagnoses at more advanced stages. The study data were derived from in-depth interviews with 20 Latino melanoma patients in Los Angeles County between May and November 2023. The patient sample included mostly early-stage diagnoses (75% with in situ or regional disease).
Using reflexive thematic analysis, the study researchers identified major themes, as well as two key facilitators: patient self-advocacy and the availability of linguistically appropriate care. Patients who actively sought medical attention and had access to care in their preferred language received more timely diagnoses and smoother treatment pathways. Four primary barriers included difficulty navigating health insurance procedures, delays in specialist referrals, low awareness of melanoma signs and risk factors, and a lack of consistent linguistically concordant care. Half of the interviews were conducted in Spanish, which the authors noted highlighted the need for bilingual or Spanish-speaking providers to address gaps in care.
“These findings suggest that improving access to linguistically appropriate care and reducing administrative hurdles may help shorten the time to diagnosis and treatment among Latino patients,” the authors wrote. “Such efforts are critical to addressing survival disparities and improving health equity in melanoma care.”
Source: Miller K, et al. JAMA Dermatology. 2025. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.3620