New Treatments for Advanced and Metastatic Melanoma

Melanoma, the deadly skin cancer, is on the rise. In the United States in 2010, there were estimated 68,130 new cases of invasive cancer and 46,770 of in situ melanoma. In the same year, 8,700 people were predicted to die from this malignancy. Melanoma is curable if it is detected early and can be surgically removed. When melanoma has spread to lymph node(s) or when it is more than 4 mm thick, there is a chance of metastasis (spread to distant organs). Melanoma could spread to the following organs: lung, liver, brain, bone, intestine, pancreas, adrenal, kidney, spleen, heart, and thyroid. Imaging tests such as Pet CT and brain MRI may be done to look for metastasis. Most patients with metastatic melanoma die within one year. The 2-year survival rate is only 10-20%. Current treatments include chemotherapy, of which dacarbazine is the most commonly used. Over the past decades, many drugs and vaccines have been tested, with no success. The last drug approved was interleukin-2 in 1998, but it is so toxic that physicians rarely use it nowadays. Neither it nor the other approved drug, dacarbazine, has clearly demonstrated improved survival. This year, two new drugs are being introduced. The first drug is Yervoy (ipilimumab), which was approved by the FDA in March 2011. The second agent is vemurafenib; it has finished its clinical trial and awaits approval.

Yervoy is an antibody that blocks T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). This blockage increases T-cell proliferation, which results in a more active immune system to attack the melanoma cells. A recent clinical trial enrolled 502 patients with previously untreated metastatic melanoma. The patients were randomly assigned to either dacarbazine chemotherapy plus Yervoy, or chemotherapy alone. Overall survival was significantly longer in the group receiving Yervoy plus dacarbazine than in the group receiving dacarbazine (11.2 months versus 9.1 months). At one year, 47% of the Yervoy patients are alive, in comparison with 36% in the chemotherapy only group. At two years, 29% of the Yervoy patients are alive, in comparison with 18% in the chemotherapy only group. At three years, 21% of the Yervoy patients are alive, in comparison with 12% in the chemotherapy only group. Yervoy can result in severe immune-mediated adverse reactions due to T-cell activation and proliferation. These immune-mediated side effects may involve any organ system. The most common severe adverse reactions are enterocolitis, hepatitis, dermatitis (including toxic epidermal necrolysis), neuropathy, and endocrinopathy. Yervoy costs $120,000 for a complete course of treatment, which consists of four infusions given over a three-month period.

The second promising new drug, vemurafenib, targets a mutation in the gene BRAF (Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf). About 50% of melanoma cases have this mutation. The clinical trial enrolled 675 patients with previously untreated, metastatic melanoma with the BRAF mutation. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either vemurafenib or dacarbazine. At six months, overall survival was 84% in the vemurafenib group and 64% in the chemotherapy group. Common adverse events associated with vemurafenib were joint pain, rash, fatigue, hair loss, squamous-cell carcinoma, photosensitivity, nausea, and diarrhea. In the study, 38% of patients required dose modification because of toxic effects. This drug is being considered for future potential approval by the FDA in melanoma patients. The price tag is unknown at this point.

Dr. Mai Brooks is a surgical oncologist/general surgeon, with expertise in early detection and prevention of cancer. More at http://www.drbrooksmd.com/, http://thecancerexperience.wordpress.com/

Original article

The Dangers of Sunburn and How to Prevent It

Sunburn is extremely common. In fact, every person will have it at least once in their lifetime. The problem is that most people do not realize the dangers associated with this condition. These include even skin cancer. That is why preventing sunburn should be your number one priority when going outside on a sunny day.

Sunburn is caused by the harmful UV rays of the sun. Usually, sufferers experience just redness of the skin, discomfort, a burning sensation and mild pain. However, the possible complications are many and different.

Infection is one of the most common and serious complications. If the skin damage is severe, blisters may form on the skin. Ruptured blisters offer the perfect environment for the growth of bacteria.

Photo aging is one of the long-term complications of sunburn. The long-term damages caused by the harmful UV rays of the sun include dry and rough skin, small red veins on cheeks and nose, freckles and large brown lesions. Deeper and more visible wrinkles are also associated with sunburn.

Skin cancer and its malignant form melanoma are the most serious dangers of sunburn. When your skin is exposed to the UV rays for a long time, this form of radiation may result in changes in the DNA structure of skin cells. As a result, benign skin cancer growths can appear. You may even develop melanoma which is potentially lethal.

How do you prevent sunburn, sun skin damage and skin cancer?

The best protection is to apply sunscreen to all areas of your body not covered by clothing every time you go out during the day. Do not miss to cover literally every bit of skin exposed to the sunlight including your feet and your ears. Use sunscreen with SPF over 20 or preferably over 30. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours and/or every time you get out of the water, if you are swimming.

You should consider wearing a wide brim hat and loose and breathable clothing that covers as much of your body as possible on very sunny days. Dermatologists recommend avoiding sun exposure between 11 in the morning and 5 in the afternoon. This piece of advice is particularly applicable to people with fair complexion and to children.

Finally, get professional treatment if you have sunburn. Inspect your body regularly for suspicious moles and call your doctor as soon as possible after you observe new growths or changes in old ones.

Protect yourself from Melanoma in the best way possible. Take advantage of early Skin Cancer detection services to reduce your risk of serious illness.

Original article

Complete Skin Cancer Prevention With Sun Protective Swimwear

Recognizing skin cancer is very important to ensure that you receive early treatment. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, and it can show up anywhere on the body. This type of skin cancer can develop from a mole you have always had or even on a patch of skin that was once perfectly clear.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type, and it usually looks like a red bump on the neck, head, arms, legs, or upper torso. Squamous cell carcinoma looks like a scaly bump and usually shows up on any part of the skin that is normally exposed to the sun.

Another type of skin issue to notice is sunspots, which usually appear on people who are at least 40 years old. They are not cancerous, but they can be an early sign that you will develop skin cancer in the future.

Of course recognizing skin cancer early is the first step in getting treatment successfully, but there is no reason to expose yourself to the risk of developing skin cancer. Adults should practice sun protective measures and also teach their children about sun protection. Children's skin is more vulnerable to the sun than adults' skin, and part of your cancer risk is related to how many sunburns you had as a child.

Sun protective swimwear is the first line of defense against skin cancer. Always look for garments with a UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor, of 50+. This is the highest level of ultraviolet radiation protection available in clothing. These types of suits tend to cover a lot more skin than the skimpy bathing suits that have been popular in recent years. Keeping the skin covered is the only way to lower the risk of skin cancer. Sun protective swimwear is also made of fabrics that are more tightly woven because they help keep the sun's rays from hitting the skin.

In addition to sun protective swimwear, you should always make sure to include hats or caps to keep the sun off your children's heads and faces. Also apply sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 on all areas of the skin that are not covered by sun protective clothing. Together, sunscreen and sun protective swimwear and clothing provide all the protection you need against the sun's UVR radiation. Just remember to plan ahead, and your skin will thank you many years from now.

Gorgeous sun protective swimwear that appeals to the fashion savvy--being sun smart has never looked this good!

Original article