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Melanoma - Metastatic News
A Baby's Skin No Match for the Sun
Posted 10 hours ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 23, 2017 – Want to help protect your children from skin cancer as they get older? Make sure they never get a serious sunburn in childhood. Just one blistering burn as a child or teen nearly doubles the risk of getting melanoma, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. "Sun protection is important at every stage of life, including infancy. Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer, including melanoma," said pediatric dermatologist Sheila Fallon Friedlander. She's a professor of pediatrics and dermatology at the University of California, San Diego. "Keep sun-safety items near the front door, in your car and in your diaper bag so that you always have them ready when you're on the go," Fallon Friedlander recommended in an American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) news release. Other tips from Fallon Friedlander and the AAD include: Dress your baby ... Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunburn, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Prevention of Sunburn, Deeptan, Coppertone
Many Tanning Salons Defy Legal Age Limits on Users
Posted 7 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 – Many indoor tanning salons in the United States would let underage customers tan despite government bans, a new study finds. "Enacting well-crafted age restriction laws to maximize compliance through enforcement of penalties on the state level and moving towards a national ban with similar accompanying strong enforcement . . . [is] essential to reduce skin cancer risk in the vulnerable youth population," said study leader Leah Ferrucci. She is an associate research scientist in epidemiology and a lecturer at the Yale School of Public Health. For the study, researchers posing as underage consumers phoned tanning salons in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. All had banned indoor tanning by anyone under age 17 or 18 at the time of the study. ... Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunburn, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Prevention of Sunburn
Have Scientists Created a Safe, Sun-Free Tan?
Posted 9 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 – Many people would love to have a natural-looking golden tan, but know that soaking up the sun raises their risk of skin cancer. Now scientists say they've developed a way to tan without exposure to damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In laboratory tests, the researchers used the technique to increase pigmentation in human skin samples. And while science done at this early stage sometimes doesn't pan out in humans, the researchers remain hopeful. "The activation of the tanning/pigmentation pathway by this new class of small molecules is physiologically identical to UV-induced pigmentation without the DNA-damaging effects of UV," study leader Dr. David Fisher said in a Massachusetts General Hospital news release. Fisher is chief of dermatology at the hospital in Boston. "We need to conduct safety studies, which are always essential with potential new treatment ... Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunburn, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Prevention of Sunburn, Deeptan, Coppertone
With Summer Sun Comes Heightened Skin Cancer Risk
Posted 12 days ago by Drugs.com
SUNDAY, June 11, 2017 – Summer beckons, and with those sunny skies comes a warning to protect yourself from skin cancer. "Skin cancer, like all types of cancer, is capable of destroying healthy tissue and spreading to distant body sites," said Dr. C. Blake Phillips, a fellow in the University of Alabama at Birmingham department of dermatology. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's important to take steps to prevent it and to recognize the early signs. "If undetected or untreated, skin cancers lead to loss of vital functions or death. It is important to keep an eye on your skin and watch for changes that could be a sign of skin cancer," Phillips added. Most skin cancers occur due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or other sources, such as tanning beds, said Phillips. To ... Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Deeptan, Coppertone
Is Full Lymph Node Removal Always Needed for Melanoma?
Posted 15 days ago by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 – Removing all lymph nodes in the vicinity of a melanoma skin cancer may not increase a patient's overall chances for survival, a new study concludes. This invasive procedure – called complete lymph node dissection – is a standard but hotly debated treatment for melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. For the study, investigators tracked more than 1,900 melanoma patients around the world. They found that complete lymph node removal was no better than less extensive surgery and observation for extending survival. "I think many more patients will decide to go with observation now, rather than immediate complete lymph node dissection," said study author Dr. Mark Faries. The findings may help clear up decades of debate regarding how best to employ lymph node removals, said Faries, co-director of the melanoma program at Angeles Clinic and Research Institute in ... Read more
Related support groups: Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Melanoma - Metastatic, History - Skin Cancer
Dark Skin No Shield From Deadly Skin Cancer
Posted 2 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 – Contrary to what many believe, dark skin doesn't offer protection against deadly melanomas, an expert warns. This type of skin cancer can be affected by genetics and is far more likely to develop on sun-protected areas of the body in blacks, Hispanics and even Asians, according to researcher Dr. Arthur Rhodes. He's director of the Melanoma Surveillance Clinic at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "The misconception that the sun is responsible for all cases of melanoma leads to lower survival rates because of delayed diagnosis, particularly among people of color," Rhodes said in a Rush news release. Only 10 to 15 percent of melanomas are caused by excessive sun exposure, typically in heavily freckled and sun-damaged skin, he noted. A 2016 American Academy of Dermatology study found that while melanoma incidence is higher in whites, death rates from the ... Read more
Related support groups: Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Melanoma - Metastatic, Diagnosis and Investigation, History - Skin Cancer
Study Refutes Viagra-Melanoma Link
Posted 19 May 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, May 19, 2017 – Some good news for sexually active older men: Viagra and related erectile dysfunction drugs do not increase the risk of deadly melanoma skin cancer, researchers report. "Physicians should still screen for melanoma risk, but they do not need to add the use of Viagra and similar drugs to the list of screening criteria specifically," said study leader Dr. Stacy Loeb. Loeb is a urologist and assistant professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year placed Viagra (sildenafil) and other ED drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors on its watch list of medications with possible safety issues. This action followed a 2014 report in JAMA Internal Medicine that linked Viagra with an increased risk of melanoma. To clarify the issue, researchers analyzed data from five large-scale studies of more than 866,000 erectile ... Read more
Related support groups: Viagra, Erectile Dysfunction, Sildenafil, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Revatio, Melanoma - Metastatic
Sunscreen 101
Posted 16 May 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, May 16, 2017 – Many people make mistakes when using sunscreen that could increase their risk of skin cancer, a new study suggests. Researchers set up free sunscreen dispensers at the Minnesota State Fair and watched as nearly 2,200 people used them. The researchers found that only 33 percent of people applied sunscreen to all exposed skin. Only 38 percent were wearing sun-protective clothing, hats or sunglasses. Also, use of the free sunscreen dispensers fell sharply on cloudy days, the researchers reported. The study was published online May 16 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. "These results highlight some of the ways people use sunscreen incorrectly," study author Dr. Ingrid Polcari said in a journal news release. She is an assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. "To get the best possible sun ... Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunburn, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Prevention of Sunburn, Deeptan, Coppertone
Health Tip: Teach Teens About Sun Safety
Posted 8 May 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Teens enjoying carefree fun in the sun may not worry about wrinkles, sun damage or skin cancer – but they should. It's a conversation that parents should have with teens to prevent problems later. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends talking to teens about: Staying out of the sun when its rays are strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wearing light clothing with tightly-woven fabric, which helps to reflect the sun's rays. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses also offer protection. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day before going outdoors, and reapplying throughout the day. Make sure it's applied to the entire body, including the tops of the ears and feet. Regularly checking skin for moles that look suspicious, and pointing any out to a parent or doctor. Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunburn, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Prevention of Sunburn, Deeptan, Coppertone
Surgery May Be Best for Advanced Melanoma
Posted 5 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 – Surgery to remove melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – can extend the lives of patients whose disease has spread to the abdomen area, new research suggests. Patients who get drug therapy and surgery to remove their cancer live twice as long – 18 months on average – as those who only get medication, researchers found. "Now that there are better options systemically, the decision-making about treatment has become more complex. Having this data available could potentially impact discussions about treatment and benefit patients long-term," said study leader Dr. Gary Deutsch, a cancer surgeon at Northwell Health in Great Neck, N.Y. "I think the combination of immunotherapy with surgical therapy ... could potentially lead to curing more patients," he said in a health system news release. Immunotherapy prompts a patient's immune system to destroy ... Read more
Related support groups: Surgery, Melanoma, Melanoma - Metastatic
Survival Continues to Improve for Most Cancers
Posted 31 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 31, 2017 – Overall cancer death rates in the United States continue to fall, but racial gaps persist, a new report says. Death rates fell between 2010 and 2014 for 11 of the 16 most common cancers in men and for 13 of the most common types in women, including lung, colon, prostate and breast cancers. However, death rates rose for cancers of the liver, pancreas and brain in men and for the liver and uterus in women. And improvements in cancer survival weren't equal for all Americans. "While this report found that five-year survival for most types of cancer improved among both blacks and whites over the past several decades, racial disparities for many common cancers have persisted, and they may have increased for prostate cancer and female breast cancer," said Dr. Lynne Penberthy. She's associate director of the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Research ... Read more
Related support groups: Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Lung Cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Colorectal Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Metastatic, Brain Tumor, Melanoma, Pancreatic Cancer, Skin Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, Osteosarcoma, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer - Adjuvant, Melanoma - Metastatic
Tanning's Allure Tied to Other Addictions
Posted 31 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 31, 2017 – People who seem to have a deep tan year-round – whether from the sun or indoor tanning – may be "addicted" to tanning. And new research suggests there's also a link between such tanning and other addictions. "People who were tanning-dependent were six times as likely to have a history of alcohol dependence, and were almost three times as likely to have seasonal affective disorder (SAD)," said study leader Brenda Cartmel. She is a senior research scientist at the Yale University School of Public Health. SAD is a type of depression related to the shorter, darker days of winter. Cartmel said previous smaller studies have also suggested these associations. Cartmel's team surveyed nearly 500 people who had previously sunbathed or used an indoor tanning bed. All of the participants had also been part of a study on early onset skin cancer among those under age 40 in ... Read more
Related support groups: Alcohol Dependence, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer
More Teens Turning Their Backs on Tanning Beds: CDC
Posted 5 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 3, 2017 – The number of U.S. teens who use indoor tanning has dropped by half in recent years, a new government study reveals. Only about 7 percent of high school students said they used indoor tanning in 2015, down from almost 16 percent of students in 2009, according to results from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey. But that still leaves more than 1 million teens putting themselves at increased risk of skin cancer, including the most severe form, melanoma, by going to a tanning salon, said study lead author Gery Guy Jr. Worse, their use of indoor tanning appears to give them a false sense of security when they step outdoors into real sunlight, said Guy, a health economist with the CDC's division of cancer prevention and control. "We also found that among the 1.2 million high school students who are continuing to indoor tan, 82 percent of them ... Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunburn, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Prevention of Sunburn, Deeptan, Coppertone
Hispanics Should Be Wary of the Sun's Rays, Too
Posted 3 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 3, 2017 – Many Latinos think they're safe from sun damage, even though advanced skin cancer is increasingly common in this group, a New York skin specialist warns. "The belief that Hispanic people don't have to worry about skin cancer has existed among Latinos for generations. They hear it from their parents and grandparents, and then they pass this belief on to their children," Dr. Maritza Perez said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release. Exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation (from the sun and indoor tanning beds) is a controllable risk factor for skin cancer. Many Latinos, however, mistakenly believe their darker skin protects them against cancer and fail to guard against UV exposure, Perez explained. Many also think spending more time in the sun and getting a "base" tan will protect them, which is untrue, she added. Perez is a clinical professor of ... Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunburn, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Prevention of Sunburn
Some Melanoma Survivors Still Seek Out the Sun
Posted 2 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, March 2, 2017 – Even after surviving the potentially deadly skin cancer melanoma, some people continue to go out in the summer sun without protection. That's the stunning finding of a study of more than 700 melanoma survivors that revealed that 20 percent of them had suffered a sunburn in the past year. And only 62 percent said they "often" or "always" wore sunscreen when they were outside on a summer day. But many melanoma survivors are more vigilant about sun protection than other people their age, the study also found. "They're doing OK, but there's room for improvement," said study lead researcher Rachel Vogel. She's an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota's department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health. Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society (ACS), agreed. "Survivors are doing better than other people, but ... Read more
Related support groups: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sunburn, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen, Melanoma - Metastatic, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, History - Skin Cancer, Prevention of Sunburn, Deeptan, Coppertone
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