MELANOMA ...WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MELANOMA?

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer which, if not removed early while it is thin, spreads internally and is usually fatal. It is often ignored until too late because, in the early stages, it may look harmless and cause no discomfort. Many people don't realize that something small on their skin may kill them if not treated promptly.

Although it is rare in young children, melanoma occurs in every age group after puberty and is the most common cancer in young adults of ages 25-29. Among women of ages 30-35 the incidence is exceeded only by breast cancer. Overall melanoma is the 6th most common cancer in males and 7th in females. The U.S. incidence of melanoma now exceeds that of new HIV infections; 54,200 new cases were predicted in 2003. The incidence is currently increasing at an epidemic rate of more than 4% annually, higher than any other cancer. Most new melanoma patients have no family history of the disease; it can strike anyone regardless of health, physical condition, or skin complexion. On the average, there is a melanoma death in the U.S. almost every hour.

The good news is that melanoma is easy to detect yourself at an early stage while it is thin and easily cured by simple, painless removal in a doctor's office. All it takes is a 10 minute monthly skin check. These pages show you how to check your skin and what to look for.

HOW DOES MELANOMA START AND WHO IS AT RISK?

Melanomas often develop from pre-existing moles but may also arise in normal skin and in freckles, blemishes, birthmarks, and other pigmented areas. Sun exposure is believed to be a factor in about 70% of new melanomas but they may also occur in areas that are not normally exposed to sunlight. The first step in finding melanoma is to learn about moles, which are common pigmented skin lesions that may be flat or raised. There are two types of moles, ordinary and atypical (the medical term for atypical moles is dysplastic nevi). A mole may be atypical if it has one or more of the characteristics shown in the right hand column of Table 1 (underneath the photos below). Ten to fifteen percent of the white population has atypical moles.

Examples of a Normal Mole and Atypical Moles

NORMAL MOLE (& PEN LINE)	ATYPICAL MOLE (FLAT)
ATYPICAL MOLE (RAISED)	ATYPICAL MOLE IN SCALP

Table 1 Comparison of Ordinary and Atypical Moles

The average lifetime risk of developing melanoma in the white population is about 1 in 70 but may be much higher if you have any of the following risk factors:

Among African Americans, the average lifetime risk of melanoma is about 15 times lower than in the white population. Melanoma is uncommon in children under age 12. In the U.S., the incidence of melanoma is about equal in males and females but males have a higher death rate from melanoma, probably because they check their skin less frequently.

Melanoma occurs in every part of the country. The five states with the highest predicted incidence of new cases are California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania. When adjusted for population differences, the prevalence of melanoma is nearly as high in Massachusetts as in Florida and almost as high in New York as in Texas and California. The risk in northern and central states is not much less than in sunbelt states. Australia and New Zealand have the highest incidence of melanoma in the world, with New Zealand's rate nearly five times the U.S. rate.

The Melanoma Education Foundation and SunFriendlyProducts.com are providing this information for educational purposes only and are not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. Information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a skin problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you have a skin problem, you should consult a dermatologist or other professional healthcare provider.