Skin Cancer

The American Cancer society estimates that about 68,720 new melanomas, a type of skin cancer, were diagnosed in 2009 and that melanoma caused 8,650 deaths in the same time period.  While melanoma accounts for less than 5% of all skin cancer cases it causes a majority of skin cancer deaths. The incidence of melanoma has been increasing for the past three decades, particularly in young white women and older white men. The melanoma death rate has dropped over the past 20 years in people younger than 50 years of age, but has been stable or increasing for people over 50. Melanoma is usually curable at the early stage of disease, but it is more difficult to treat once it has spread to other parts of the body.

Melanoma is a cancer that arises in melanocytes, the type of skin cell that produces the melanin that makes skin tan or brown. This cancer most commonly occurs on the chest, back, leg, neck, and face, but it can arise anywhere.

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major risk factor for melanoma. This exposure can come from sunlight, as well as tanning lamps and booths. UV radiation damages the DNA in skin cells. If the damage affects genes that regulate cell growth, skin cancer can arise. Race is another risk factor, with melanoma occurring 10 times more often in whites than in African Americans.

Depending on the stage of disease, melanoma may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or immunotherapy.  Cytokines (interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha) may be used to treat advanced melanoma (stage IV), and interferon-alpha may also be used after surgery for any remaining stage III disease.

Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s “Detailed Guide: Skin Cancer - Melanoma”

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