MelanomaAva

Statistics8,700 people die from

Melanoma each year in the US

68,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year in the US

Sixth most common cancer in US

Melanoma Rates Are Increasing

Risk Factors Fair skin, blue or green eyes,

red or blond hair

Close relatives with a history of melanoma

Exposure to cancerous causing chemicals such as arsenic, coal tar, and creosote

Presence of multiple birthmarks

Weakened immune system from AIDS, leukemia, organ transplant, certain medications

If you have previously had melanoma

HistoryJohn Hunter discovered fist tumor in 1787

Wasn’t recognized as a disease until 1806 by Rene Laennec

Samuel Cooper in 1840 found that melanoma is untreatable past its first stages

In 1956 Henry Lancaster made the connection between sunlight intensity and development of melanoma

Types of MelanomaSuperficial Spreading Melanoma

Nodular Melanoma

Lentigo Maligna melanoma

Acral Lentiginous melanoma

Melanoma of the eye

Normal Melanocytes

“This shows an even distribution of dendritic melanocytes within the basal layer of the epidermis”

Stage 0

Stage I

Some of the melanocytes are atypical, and their numbers increase.

Melanoma Lesions

Stage I•Thin melanoma of the skin

•Treatments•surgery

•90% survival rate

Stage II

Radical Growth Phase (RGP) Melanoma

Stage II•Medium or thick melanoma of the skin

•Treatments•Surgery removing affected area and sampling the lymph nodes

•Sometimes radiation is used

•75% Survival Rate

Stage III

Vertical Growth Phase (VGP)Leads directly to metastasis

Stage III•Lumps of melanoma close to or in that region but a ways from the primary skin lesion, lymph node involvement, or both

•Treatments•Surgery to remove tumors, surrounding area, and lymph nodes

•Sometimes radiation

•High-dose interferon-alpha for a year

•30-60% Survival rate depending on extent of disease

Stage IV•Spread to distant sites in the body or lymph nodes several levels beyond the skin area of the primary lesion

•Treatments•Surgery and radiation

•Systemic drugs

•Experimental treatments

•Less than 10% survival rate

Sources http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001853

http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=18&s=63&ss=861&id=9623

http://www.cancerquest.org/

http://www.medicinenet.com/biological_therapy/article.htm

http://www.mamashealth.com/cancer/melanoma.asp

http://www.sunislife.com/ART_sunscreenscancer2.html

http://www.malignant-melanoma.net/who-discovered-melanoma.php

http://www.melanomahopenetwork.org/Section.asp?SID=2200&N=Treatment%20Options

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v445/n7130/fig_tab/nature05661_F1.html