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In Queensland and New South Wales, malignant melanoma is being diagnosed and treated at an earlier biological stage than in previous years. An analysis of 670 men treated since 1973 at Sydney Hospital indicated that recognition of and survival from melanoma varied according to occupation. Unskilled patients had a markedly worse prognosis than more skilled patients, a finding attributable, at least in part, to later presentation for treatment. We conclude that although public awareness of melanoma has increased due to continual publicity, the educational programme must be concentrated on the lower socioeconomic groups.