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Could AI Be the New “Eye” for Detecting Skin Cancer?

We’ve talked before about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine—how it can help doctors make quicker diagnoses and its potential to revolutionize healthcare.

But, as we’ve also discussed, AI comes with its own set of challenges and limitations.

Here’s another area where AI may prove useful: detecting skin cancer.

If you’re in retirement and keeping an eye on your health, you know how important it is to stay on top of changes in your skin.

As we age, the risk of skin cancer rises, and the quicker it’s caught, the better your chances of treating it early.

Now, a new AI tool being developed in the UK could offer another layer of protection by helping to detect suspicious skin lesions faster and more accurately than current methods.

This AI model, developed by researchers from Anglia Ruskin University, Check4Cancer, and other institutions, was trained on data from over 53,000 skin lesions from more than 25,000 patients. That’s a huge amount of data—something that AI can process and learn from in ways humans simply can’t.

The AI tool looks at 22 clinical features of a skin lesion, such as whether it’s changed in size or color recently or if it appears inflamed. The tool distills these features into a “C4C Risk Score,” which has proven more accurate than existing methods for determining whether a lesion might be cancerous.

For instance, this new AI model had an accuracy rate of 69%, outperforming the widely used 7PCL (62%) and Williams scores (60%).

While this may sound like a bunch of tech talk, the real takeaway for you is this: AI could help you avoid unnecessary biopsies and long waits for skin cancer diagnoses.

With faster and more accurate screenings, you’d know sooner whether something on your skin is actually worth worrying about. And that’s a big deal, especially for older adults, who may already be dealing with other health concerns.

Let’s face it: going through unnecessary procedures can be stressful and time-consuming. This AI tool has the potential to reduce patient referrals for biopsies, which means fewer invasive tests and a quicker path to diagnosis.

That’s something anyone in their golden years can appreciate!

Another interesting aspect of this new AI tool is that it doesn’t just focus on melanoma (the type of skin cancer most of us hear about). It also includes risk factors for other types of skin cancer, like basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, which can also be dangerous if not caught early.

The researchers discovered that factors like the lesion’s “pinkness” and your hair color at age 15 could play a role in identifying risky skin changes—something previous models didn’t account for.

While the AI tool is still awaiting regulatory approval, which may happen in 2025, it’s exciting to think that in the near future, your doctor could have an even more powerful ally in spotting skin cancer early.

We’ve long been skeptical of Big Pharma’s endless rollout of new drugs, but AI like this could offer something different—a tool that’s about prevention and early detection rather than pumping out more treatments with questionable benefits.

Of course, no tool is perfect, and we always recommend discussing any health concerns with your doctor. This AI tool shows promise, but it’s not yet available, and when it is, it’ll be important to weigh your options carefully.

Here’s how you can be proactive in the meantime:

  • Keep an Eye on Your Skin: If you notice any changes in moles, spots, or lesions, be sure to schedule a checkup. Early detection is key.
  • Get Regular Screenings: Especially for seniors, regular skin exams are a must. Talk to your doctor about how often you should be screened.
  • Stay Informed: New technology is constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay updated on developments that could impact your health. AI in healthcare is just one of the many areas to watch.

Artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of healthcare in ways we never imagined, and this new tool for detecting skin cancer is just one example. While we’re cautiously optimistic, we’ll be keeping an eye on how this technology unfolds—because your health deserves nothing less.

To protecting your skin,

Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team

P.S. Interested in learning even more about how to navigate the promises and pitfalls of AI in medicine, check out the Health Science Institute’s April 2024 newsletter, by clicking here.

Sources:

Anglia Ruskin University. (2024, October 17). AI model that checks for skin cancer shows promise. Medicalxpress.com; Medical Xpress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-10-ai-skin-cancer.html

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