Mary Bird Perkins offers the most advanced radiation therapy available in the world with the medical and technical experts to use it successfully.
Although melanoma is considered the most serious form of skin cancer, it is not as common as the other major types of skin cancer and is highly curable if detected early and properly treated.* Because melanoma is more likely to spread than other skin tumors, early detection is important. The 5-year survival rate for those with melanoma is 92 percent, and about 83 percent of melanoma cases are diagnosed at an early, localized stage.* For a personalized cancer risk assessment, visit MyCancerRisk.com.
Melanoma occurs when cancerous cells form in the skin cells that color the skin (melanocytes). Melanoma can occur anywhere on the body and is most commonly diagnosed in adults, but sometimes found in children. In men, melanoma is frequently found on the area from the shoulders to the hips or the head and neck. In women, it is frequently discovered on the arms and legs. Melanoma may cause a change in the appearance of a mole or pigmented area. A mole that changes in size, shape or color, has irregular edges or borders, is more than one color, is asymmetrical or itches should be examined by a doctor. A doctor should also be consulted if there is a change in pigmented (colored) skin or if new moles grow near an existing mole (satellite moles).
The risk factors for melanoma include unusual moles, sun exposure, tanning booth use and a family history of melanoma. Caucasians older than 20 with red or blond hair, white or light-colored skin and freckles and/or blue eyes are more susceptible to developing melanoma. A biopsy is commonly used to diagnose melanoma, removing a portion of the suspicious skin and examining the tissue for cancer cells. Although many people are successfully treated for melanoma, it can recur and should be monitored closely.
Related Links:
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
*American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2006, Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2006.