Topic Overview
What is melanoma?
Melanoma is a kind of
skin cancer. It is not as common as other types of skin cancer, but it is the
most serious.
Melanoma can affect your skin only, or it may
spread to your organs and bones. As with other cancers, treatment for melanoma works best when the cancer is found early.
This topic is about melanoma that occurs in the skin. It does not cover melanoma that occurs in the eye or in any other part of the body besides the skin.
What causes melanoma?
You can get melanoma by
spending too much time in the sun. Too much sun exposure causes normal skin cells to become
abnormal. These abnormal cells quickly grow out of control and attack the
tissues around them.
Melanoma tends to run in families. Other
things in your family background can increase your chances of getting the
disease. For example, you may have abnormal, or atypical, moles. Atypical moles
may fade into the skin and have a flat part that is level with the skin. They
may be smooth or slightly scaly, or they may look rough and "pebbly." Having many atypical moles increases your risk of melanoma. Also, it may be a sign that melanoma runs in your family.
What are the symptoms?
The main sign of melanoma
is a change in a mole or other skin growth, such as a birthmark. Any change in
the shape,
size, or
color of a mole may be a sign of melanoma.
Melanoma may grow in a mole or birthmark that you already have. But
melanomas may grow in unmarked skin. They can be found anywhere on your
body. Most of the time, they are on the upper back in men and women and on the
legs of women.
Melanoma may look like a flat, brown or black mole
that has uneven
edges. Melanomas usually have an irregular or
asymmetrical shape. This means that one half of the mole doesn't match the
other half. Melanoma moles or marks may be any size, but they are usually
6 mm (0.25 in.) or larger.
Unlike a normal mole or mark, a melanoma can:
- Change color, size, or the shape of its border.
- Be lumpy or
rounded.
- Become crusty, ooze, or bleed.
How is melanoma diagnosed?
Your doctor will check
your skin to look for melanoma. If your doctor thinks you have melanoma, he or
she will remove a sample of tissue from the area around the melanoma
(biopsy). Another doctor, called a
pathologist, will look at the tissue to check for
cancer cells.
If your biopsy shows melanoma, you may need to have
more tests to find out if it has spread to your
lymph nodes.
How is it treated?
The most common treatment is
surgery to remove the melanoma. That is all the treatment that you may need for
early-stage melanomas that have not spread to other parts of your body.
After surgery, your doctor will set up a schedule of frequent checkups that will happen less often as time goes on. Your doctor will talk with you about how you can lower your chances of having another melanoma.
If your melanoma is very deep or has spread to your lymph nodes, your doctor may talk with you about taking a medicine called
interferon. Or your doctor may recommend that you enroll in a clinical trial.
Can you prevent melanoma?
The best way to prevent
all kinds of skin cancer, including melanoma, is to protect yourself whenever
you are out in the sun. It's important to avoid exposure to the sun's
ultraviolet (UV) rays.
- Try to stay out
of the sun during the middle of the day (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
- Wear protective clothes when you are outside, such as a hat that
shades your face, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants.
- Get in the
habit of using sunscreen every day. Your sunscreen should have an
SPF of least 15. Look for a sunscreen that protects
against both types of UV radiation in the sun's rays—UVA and
UVB.
- Use a higher SPF when you are at higher
elevations.
- Avoid sunbathing and tanning salons.
Check your skin every month for odd marks, moles, or
sores that will not heal. Pay extra attention to areas that get a lot of sun,
such as your hands, arms, and back. Ask your doctor to check your skin during
regular physical exams or at least once a year. Even though the biggest cause
of melanoma is spending too much time in the sun, it can be found on parts of
your body that never see the sun.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Learning about melanoma:
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Being diagnosed:
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Getting treatment:
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Ongoing concerns:
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Living with melanoma:
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End-of-life issues:
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Cause
The most common causes of
melanoma are:1
- Exposure to
ultraviolet radiation.
- Blistering sunburns at any time of life
- Intense
sun exposure, every now and then
- Skin characteristics.
- Fair skin that doesn't tan and tends to
sunburn or freckle
- Numerous moles and/or more than one
atypical mole
- A large mole you had since
birth
- Eye or hair color.
- Blue or green eyes
- Red or blond hair
- A personal or family history of
melanoma.
- Certain gene changes.
- Xeroderma pigmentosum, a skin disease.
Symptoms
Early signs
The most important warning sign for
melanoma is any change in size,
shape, or color of a
mole or other skin growth, such as a birthmark. Watch
for changes that occur over a period of weeks to a month. Use the
ABCDE rule to evaluate skin changes, and call your health professional if you
have any of the following changes.
- A is for
asymmetry. One half of the mole or skin growth doesn't
match the other half.
- B is for
border irregularity. The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
- C
is for color. The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan,
brown, and black are present. Dashes of red, white, and blue add to the mottled
appearance. Changes in color distribution, especially the spread of color from
the edge of a mole into the surrounding skin, also are an early sign of
melanoma.
- D is for
diameter. The mole or skin growth is larger than
6 mm (0.25 in.) or about the
size of a pencil eraser. Any growth of a mole should be of
concern.
- E is for evolution. There is a change in the size, shape,
symptoms (such as itching or tenderness), surface (especially bleeding), or
color of a mole.
Signs of melanoma in an existing mole include changes
in:
- Elevation, such as thickening or raising of a
previously flat mole.
- Surface, such as scaling, erosion, oozing,
bleeding, or crusting.
- Surrounding skin, such as redness, swelling,
or small new patches of color around a larger lesion (satellite
pigmentations).
- Sensation, such as itching, tingling, or
burning.
- Consistency, such as softening or small pieces that break
off easily (friability).
Melanoma can develop in an existing mole or other mark on
the skin, but it often develops in unmarked skin. Although melanoma can grow
anywhere on the body, it often occurs on the upper back of men and women and on
the legs in women. Less often, it can grow on the soles, palms, nail beds, or
mucous membranes that line body cavities such as the
mouth, the rectum, and the vagina. On older people, the face is the most common
place for melanoma to grow. And in older men, the most common sites are the
neck, scalp, and ears.1
Many
other skin conditions (such as
seborrheic keratosis,
warts, and
basal cell cancer) have features similar to those of
melanoma.
Later symptoms
Later signs of melanoma
include:
- A break in the skin or bleeding from a mole
or other colored skin lesion.
- Pain in a mole or lesion.
Symptoms of
metastatic melanoma may be vague and include:
- Swollen
lymph nodes, especially in the armpit or
groin.
- A colorless lump or thickening under the
skin.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Gray skin
(melanosis).
- Ongoing (chronic)
cough.
- Headaches.
- Seizures.
What Happens
Melanoma develops when normal pigment-producing skin
cells called
melanocytes become abnormal, grow uncontrollably, and
invade surrounding tissues. Usually only one melanoma develops at a time.
Although melanomas can begin in an existing
mole or other skin growth, most start in unmarked
skin. Melanoma is classified as primary or metastatic.
Primary melanoma
Primary melanoma
usually follows a predictable
pattern of growth through the
skin layers. Early detection and surgery to remove the melanoma cure most
cases of primary melanoma.
If not treated, most melanomas spread
to other parts of the body over time. Melanomas rarely go away without
treatment.
Your long-term survival, or prognosis, with primary
melanoma depends on:
- How deeply the melanoma penetrates the skin
(melanoma thickness).
- Whether an open sore is present over the
primary tumor (ulceration).
Metastatic melanoma
Metastatic melanoma
has spread through the
lymph system to nearby skin, lymph nodes, or through
the bloodstream to other organs such as the brain or the liver. Metastatic
melanoma usually cannot be cured. Clinical trials may offer the best treatment option for people with metastatic cancer.
Experts talk about prognosis in terms of "5-year survival rates." The
5-year survival rate means the percentage of people who are still alive 5 years
or longer after their cancer was discovered. Remember that these are only
averages. Everyone's case is different, and these numbers do not necessarily
show what will happen to you. The estimated 5-year survival rate for melanoma
is:2
- 98% if cancer is found early and treated
before it has spread.
- 62% if the cancer has spread to close-by
tissue.
- 15% if the cancer has spread farther away, such as to the
liver, brain, or bones.
What Increases Your Risk
Risk factors for
melanoma include:1
- Exposure to
ultraviolet radiation.
- Blistering sunburns at any time of life
- Intense
sun exposure, every now and then
- Skin characteristics.
- Fair skin that doesn't tan and tends to
sunburn or freckle
- Numerous moles and/or more than one
atypical mole
- A large mole you had since
birth
- Eye or hair color.
- Blue or green eyes
- Red or blond hair
- A personal or family history of
melanoma.
- Certain gene changes.
- Xeroderma pigmentosum, a skin disease.
When To Call a Doctor
The most important warning sign
for
melanoma is a change in size, shape, or color of a
mole or other skin growth (such as a birthmark). Call
your doctor if you have:
- Any change in a mole, including size, shape,
color, soreness, or pain.
- A bleeding mole.
- A discolored
area under a fingernail or toenail not caused by an injury.
- A
general darkening of the skin unrelated to sun exposure.
Call your doctor immediately if you
have been diagnosed with melanoma and:
- You have trouble breathing or
swallowing.
- You cough up or spit up blood
(hemoptysis).
- You have blood in your vomit or bowel
movement.
- Your urine or bowel movement is black, and the blackness
is not caused by taking iron or Pepto-Bismol.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting, or surveillance, is a period
of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition
without using medical treatment. Watchful waiting is not appropriate for
melanoma. See your doctor if you have any suspicious changes in a
mole or other skin growth. Melanoma can be cured if it
is diagnosed early, before it grows or spreads.
Who To See
The following health professionals can
help diagnose melanoma:
If melanoma is suspected, a
biopsy is needed to make a diagnosis. Your doctor will
remove a sample of tissue so that a
pathologist can examine it under a microscope to check
for cancer cells.
If further treatment or excision is needed,
melanoma can be treated by a dermatologist, surgeon,
plastic or reconstructive surgeon, or
medical oncologist.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
Exams and Tests
Evaluation of a skin lesion
A
physical exam of the skin is used to evaluate the skin
for
melanoma. If melanoma is suspected, a
skin biopsy will be done. For this, your doctor will
remove a sample of skin tissue and send it to a
pathologist to be looked at under a microscope. If the
biopsy shows melanoma, the pathologist will measure the thickness of the
melanoma to find out how advanced the cancer is.
Other techniques
may include total-body photography to monitor for changes in any mole and to
watch for new moles appearing in normal skin. A series of photos of the
suspicious lesions may be taken. Then the photos can be used as a baseline to
compare with follow-up photos.
Evaluation of lymph nodes
Your doctor
will do a physical exam that includes checking the lymph nodes to see whether
they are larger than normal. This may be followed by a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see whether the melanoma has
spread to the
lymph system.
Evaluation for possible metastases (spread of cancer)
A complete medical history and a physical exam are needed to find out
whether the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body.
Imaging tests, including positron emission tomography (PET scan),
computed tomography (CT scan), or
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be used to
identify metastases in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, brain,
liver, or other organs.
Early Detection
Skin self-exam is a good way to detect
early skin changes that may point to melanoma. A skin self-exam is used to
find suspicious growths that may be cancer or growths that may develop into
skin cancer (precancers). Adults should examine their skin once every month.
Look for any abnormal skin growth or any change in the color, shape, size, or
appearance of a skin growth. Check for any area of injured skin (lesion) that
does not heal. Have your spouse or someone such as a close friend help you
monitor your skin, especially places that are hard to see such as your scalp
and back.
There are other steps you can take to prevent skin
cancer or detect it at an early stage.
- Be aware of the risk of skin cancer and the
steps you can take to prevent it, including staying out of the midday sun, wearing protective
clothing, and using sunscreen on exposed skin.
- Have your doctor examine
any suspicious skin changes. He or she may check your skin once a year. Or your doctor may suggest a skin exam more often, especially if you have:
- Familial atypical mole and melanoma (FAM-M) syndrome, which is an inherited tendency to develop
melanoma. Examine your skin every month and be examined by a doctor every 4 to
6 months, preferably by the same doctor each time.
- Increased
exposure to ultraviolet (UV)
radiation because of your job, hobbies, or outdoor activities.
- Abnormal moles called
atypical moles (dysplastic nevi). These moles are not
cancerous. But their presence is a warning of an inherited tendency to develop
melanoma.
Treatment Overview
Surgical removal (excision) of the affected skin is the most effective
treatment for
melanoma. Excision involves removing the entire
melanoma along with a border (margin) of normal-appearing skin. More
treatment may be needed based on the
stage of the melanoma.
Initial treatment
Melanoma may be cured if caught
and treated in its early stages when it affects only the skin. If melanoma is
confined to the skin (primary melanoma), you will have surgery to remove the
affected skin. If the melanoma is thin and has not invaded surrounding tissues,
excision may cure the melanoma. In more advanced stages, melanoma may spread,
or metastasize, to other organs and bones, requiring additional treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.
Treatments used for melanoma include:
- Surgery. Your doctor may use one of these surgeries:
- Local excision. This surgery takes out the melanoma and a little of the tissue around it.
- Wide local excision. This surgery removes more of the tissue around the melanoma. Lymph nodes may also be removed during this surgery.
- Lymph node dissection (lymphadenectomy). This is
surgery to remove lymph nodes to see if they have cancer cells. Or this may be done to remove lymph nodes that are cancerous.
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy. This surgery removes the first lymph node that the cancer may have spread to from the tumor. If this lymph node does not have any cancer cells, then you may not need to have more lymph nodes removed.
- Chemotherapy.
- Radiation therapy.
- Immunotherapy.
Side effects of treatment
The side effects of treatment for melanoma will depend on the type of treatment you have and your age and overall health. The side effects of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation may be mild enough that you can do things at home to manage them. See the Home Treatment section of this topic for more information.
Some of the treatment side effects can be avoided. For example, your doctor may prescribe medicines to control nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Be sure to talk to your doctor about all the side effects that you have.
Ongoing treatment
Regular follow-up appointments are
important after you have been diagnosed with melanoma.
Your doctor will set up a regular schedule of checkups that will happen less often as time goes on.
Learn to do a
skin self-exam and to check for swelling in your lymph nodes, and report any
changes to your doctor. It's a good idea to get in
the habit of doing this skin and lymph-node check at the same time every
month.
Treatment if the condition gets worse
Metastatic melanoma
Swollen or
tender lymph nodes may be a sign that the melanoma has spread (metastatic melanoma). Any enlarged
regional lymph nodes should be removed and checked for melanoma.
When melanoma has spread to only one tumor in another location, metastatic melanoma sometimes can be successfully treated with surgery. But metastatic melanoma usually responds poorly to most forms of treatment.
When successful treatment is not possible, the goal of treatment for metastatic melanoma is
to control symptoms, reduce complications, and increase comfort (palliative care).
Your doctor may recommend that you join a clinical trial if one is available in your area. Clinical trials study other treatments, such as combinations of chemotherapy, vaccines, and immunotherapies. They are also studying targeted therapy with agents such as PLX4032 and ipilimumab.
Recurrent melanoma
Melanoma can come
back after treatment. This called recurrent melanoma. This kind of melanoma, like metastatic melanoma, usually cannot be cured with treatment. But your medical team will keep you comfortable and help you live as long as possible. Treatments that may help include:
- Surgery to remove any tumors.
- Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion. If the melanoma is on your arm or leg, chemotherapy medicine may be added to a warm solution and injected into the bloodstream of that limb. The flow of blood to and from that limb is stopped for a short time so the medicine can go right to the tumor.
- Radiation or immunotherapy to relieve symptoms (palliative therapy).
- Medicines injected directly into tumors.
- Lasers to destroy tumors.
Palliative care may be an important part of your treatment plan.
What To Think About
When you first find out that you have cancer, you may feel scared or angry. Or you may feel very calm. It is normal to have a wide range of feelings and for those feelings to change quickly.
Some people find that it helps to talk about their feelings with their family and friends.
If your emotional reaction to cancer
interferes with your ability to make decisions about your health, it is
important to talk with your doctor. Your cancer treatment center may offer
psychological or financial services. You may also contact your local chapter of
the American Cancer Society to help you find a support group.
Palliative care
Cancer treatment has two main goals: to cure the cancer and to make your quality of life as good as possible. Your quality of life may be improved by having palliative care to manage your symptoms.
For some people with advanced-stage cancer, a time comes when treatment to cure cancer no longer seems like a good choice. This can be because the side effects, time, and costs of treatment are greater than the promise of cure or relief. But this isn't the end of treatment. You and your doctor can decide when you may be ready for hospice care.
It can be hard to decide when to stop treatment aimed at prolonging your life and shift the focus to end-of-life care. For more information, see the topics:
- Palliative Care.
- Hospice Care.
- Care at the End of Life.
For more information about specific treatments, see the following topics:
Prevention
There are many risk factors for developing
melanoma. The risk factor you can best control to
reduce your risk of melanoma is exposure to
ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
To help prevent skin cancer:
- Protect your skin.
- Stay out of the sun
during the midday hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
- Wear protective
clothing. This includes a hat with a brim to shade your ears and neck, a shirt
with sleeves to cover your shoulders, and pants. The best fabric for skin
protection has a tight weave to keep sunlight out.
- Use a
sunscreen every day with an SPF of at least 15. Look for a sunscreen that protects
against both types of ultraviolet radiation in the sun's rays—UVA and
UVB.
- Use a higher SPF when you are at higher
elevations.
- Set a good example for your children by protecting your skin from too much sun.
- Avoid sunbathing and tanning salons. Studies
suggest that your risk of melanoma increases by 75% if you start using artificial tanning before you are 30 years old.3
- Examine your skin regularly, and have
your doctor check your skin during all other health exams, or at least once a
year.
For more information, see:
Skin Cancer: Protecting Your Skin.
People who burn rather than tan, especially those who have
red hair or blue eyes, also have a high risk and should take extra precautions
to prevent melanoma.
For more information about prevention of melanoma, see the
following topics:
Home Treatment
Home treatment can help you manage the side effects that may
occur from your treatment. Some treatments for melanoma, such as taking interferon or having chemotherapy, can have serious side effects. If your doctor gives you instructions or medicines to
treat these side effects, be sure to follow them. In general, healthy habits such
as eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep and exercise may help
control your symptoms.
- Home treatment for nausea or vomiting
includes watching for and treating early signs of
dehydration, such as having a dry mouth or feeling lightheaded when you stand up. Eating smaller meals may help. So can a little bit of ginger candy or ginger tea.
- Home treatment for diarrhea includes
resting your stomach and watching for signs of dehydration. Check with your
doctor before using any nonprescription medicines for your
diarrhea.
- Home treatment for constipation
includes gentle exercise along with adequate intake of fluids and a diet that
is high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Check with your doctor before using a
laxative for your constipation.
- Home treatment for fatigue includes making sure you get extra rest if you are receiving
chemotherapy or
radiation therapy. Let your symptoms be your guide.
You may be able to stay with your usual routine and just get some extra sleep.
Fatigue is often worse at the end of treatment or just after treatment is
completed.
Other issues may include:
- Hair loss. This can be emotionally
distressing. Not all chemotherapy medicines cause hair loss, and some people
have only mild thinning that is noticeable only to them. Talk to your doctor
about whether hair loss is an expected side effect with the medicines you will
receive.
- Sleep problems. If you find you have trouble sleeping, you may
sleep more easily if you have a regular bedtime, get some exercise during the
day, avoid caffeine late in the day, and try other methods to
relieve sleep problems.
Not all forms of cancer or cancer treatment cause pain. If
pain occurs, many treatments are available to relieve it. If your doctor has
given you instructions or medicines to treat pain, be sure to follow them. Home
treatment may help to
reduce pain and improve your physical and mental
well-being. Be sure to talk with your doctor about any home treatment you use
for pain.
The diagnosis of melanoma and the need for
treatment can be very stressful. You may be able to
reduce your stress by expressing your feelings to
others. Learning relaxation techniques may also help you reduce your
stress.
Your feelings about your body may change following a
diagnosis of melanoma and the need for treatment.
Adapting to your body image changes may involve
talking openly about your concerns with your partner and discussing your
feelings with your doctor. Your doctor may also be able to refer you to groups
that can offer additional support and information.
Medications
Medicines for melanoma include chemotherapy with a single medicine or several medicines. Medicines for treatment may include immunotherapy or even a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Medication Choices
Medicine for melanoma that has metastasized may
include:
- Chemotherapy with medicines such as dacarbazine or temozolomide.
- Immunotherapy with interferon or interleukin-2.
What To Think About
Chemotherapy used to treat melanoma may be given as an outpatient treatment, but sometimes people need a short hospital stay.
Medicines used for chemotherapy may be taken by mouth or injected into your bloodstream so they can travel throughout your body. If the melanoma is on an arm or leg, chemotherapy medicines may added to a warm solution that is injected into the bloodstream of that limb. The flow of blood to and from that limb is stopped for a short time so the medicine can go right to the tumor. This is called hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion.
Medicines being studied in clinical trials include combinations of chemotherapy, vaccines, and immunotherapies. Clinical trials are also looking at targeted therapy with the monoclonal antibody ipilimumab and a medicine called PLX4032.
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for melanoma and is done to remove the primary melanoma. Sometimes lymph nodes may be removed at the same time to check them for cancer. Surgery also may be done to remove lymph nodes that have cancer or to remove tumors that may have spread to other parts of the body.
Surgery Choices
The most common types of surgery used to treat melanoma
include:
- Local excision. This surgery takes out the melanoma and a little of the tissue around it.
- Wide local excision. This surgery removes more of the tissue around the melanoma. Lymph nodes may also be removed during this surgery.
- Lymph node dissection (lymphadenectomy). This is
surgery to remove lymph nodes to see if they have cancer cells. Or this may be done to remove lymph nodes that are cancerous.
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy. This surgery removes the first lymph node that the cancer may have spread to from the tumor. If this lymph node does not have any cancer cells, then you may not need to have more lymph nodes removed.
What To Think About
After removal of a primary
melanoma, you may need a skin
graft or other reconstructive surgery for cosmetic reasons or to restore function. This is most likely if the
melanoma was large or was a late-stage tumor.
Other Treatment
Clinical trials are currently studying many other treatments. These include new forms of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. Your doctor may recommend that you join a clinical trial if one is available in your area.
Complementary therapies
People sometimes use complementary therapies along with medical treatment to help relieve symptoms and side effects of cancer treatments. Some of the complementary therapies that may be helpful include:
Mind-body treatments like the ones listed above may help you feel better. They can make it easier to cope with cancer treatments. They also may reduce chronic low back pain, joint pain, headaches, and pain from treatments.
Before you try a complementary therapy, talk to your doctor about the possible value and potential side effects. Let your doctor know if you are already using any such therapies. Complementary therapies are not meant to take the place of standard medical treatment, but they may improve your quality of life and help you deal with the stress and side effects of cancer treatment.
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations
| American Academy of Dermatology |
| P.O. Box 4014 |
| Schaumburg, IL 60168 |
| Phone: |
1-866-503-SKIN (1-866-503-7546) toll-free
(847) 240-1280 |
| Fax: |
(847) 240-1859 |
| Web Address: |
www.aad.org |
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The American Academy of Dermatology provides information
about the care of skin, hair, and nails. You can locate a dermatologist in your
area by using their "Find a Dermatologist" tool at www.aad.org/find-a-derm.
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| American Cancer Society (ACS) |
| Phone: |
1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345) |
| TDD: |
1-866-228-4327 toll-free |
| Web Address: |
www.cancer.org |
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The American Cancer Society (ACS) conducts educational
programs and offers many services to people with cancer and to their families.
Staff at the toll-free numbers have information about services and activities
in local areas and can provide referrals to local ACS divisions.
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| American Melanoma Foundation |
| 12395 El Camino Real |
| Suite 117 |
| San Diego, CA 92130 |
| Phone: |
(619) 448-0991 |
| Web Address: |
http://www.melanomafoundation.org |
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The American Melanoma Foundation (AMF) is a charitable, nonprofit
organization that funds research on melanoma. AMF also provides education to
the public on melanoma prevention and supports melanoma patients and their
families.
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| National Cancer Institute (NCI) |
| 6116 Executive Boulevard |
| Suite 300 |
| Bethesda, MD 20892-8322 |
| Phone: |
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) |
| Web Address: |
www.cancer.gov (or
https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp# for live help
online) |
| |
|
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a U.S. government
agency that provides up-to-date information about the prevention, detection,
and treatment of cancer. NCI also offers supportive care to people who have cancer
and to their families. NCI information is also available to doctors, nurses,
and other health professionals. NCI provides the latest information about
clinical trials. The Cancer Information Service, a service of NCI, has trained
staff members available to answer questions and send free publications.
Spanish-speaking staff members are also available.
|
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| Skin Cancer Foundation |
| 149 Madison Avenue |
| Suite 901 |
| New York, NY 10016 |
| Phone: |
1-800-SKIN-490 (1-800-754-6490) |
| Email: |
info@skincancer.org |
| Web Address: |
http://www.skincancer.org |
| |
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The foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides
information on all aspects of skin cancer. It also publishes journals with
nontechnical articles on skin cancer.
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References
Citations
- Paek SC, et al. (2008). Cutaneous melanoma. In K Wolff
et al., eds., Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th ed., vol. 1, pp. 1134–1157. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
- American Cancer Society (2010). Cancer Facts and Figures 2010. Atlanta: American Cancer Society. Available online: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-026238.pdf.
- International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group on Artificial Ultraviolet Light and Skin Cancer (2006). The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous melanoma and other skin cancers: A systematic review. International Journal of Cancer, 120: 116–1122.
Other Works Consulted
- Busam KJ, et al. (2005). Melanoma diagnosis by
confocal microscopy: Promise and pitfalls. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 125(3): vii–xi.
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(metastatic), search date September 2007. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clincalevidence.com.
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- Marsden JR, et al. (2010). Revised U.K. Guidelines for the management of cutaneous melanoma 2010. British Journal of Dermatology, 163(2): 238–256.
- National Cancer Institute (2010). Melanoma PDQ: Treatment – Patient Version. Available online: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/patient.
- National Cancer Institute (2010). Skin Cancer PDQ: Prevention – Health Professional Version. Available online: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/skin/HealthProfessional.
- National Cancer Institute (2010). Skin Cancer PDQ: Prevention – Patient Version. Available online: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/skin/patient.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2010). Melanoma. Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, version 2. Available online: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/melanoma.pdf.
Credits
| By |
Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer |
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer |
Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology |
| Last Revised |
December 17, 2010 |
