| Melanoma is a type of cancer of the skin. It is a very | | | | rapidly from 5.5 to 13.9 cases per 100,000. Probably |
| rare type of skin cancer, but a very aggressive one. | | | | because young women are much more likely to use |
| Recent data published by National Institute of Health | | | | tanning booths. |
| shows an increase in melanoma in young women | | | | The good news is that deaths due to melanoma |
| (ages 15-39) in the United States over the past | | | | among young men and young women went down |
| several years. It is likely that the increase in incidence | | | | from 1981 onward. The reason for the decrease is |
| is related to increased exposure to ultraviolet | | | | likely due to increased awareness of the disease and |
| radiation. Ultraviolet light is a mutagen. That means | | | | changes in screening techniques. There is an |
| that it causes changes in the DNA that controls the | | | | interesting new technology developed in Australia |
| growth of cells and transforms them into cancer cells. | | | | called Solarscan. The key to Solarscan is advanced |
| Melanin is a pigment in the skin which absorbs | | | | computer software. A camera is pointed at a |
| ultraviolet radiation and protects the tissues in and | | | | suspicious lesion, a picture is taken and then stored |
| below the skin. Darker skinned persons have more | | | | and analyzed by the software. Solarscan can not only |
| melanin than fairer skinned people. Melanin is | | | | make a quick diagnosis, it can collect images and |
| contained in cells called melanocytes. When a | | | | compare data over a long period of time allowing |
| melanocyte becomes cancerous, it is called a | | | | doctors to monitor suspicious lesions for months or |
| melanoma. Other types of skin cancer are basal cell | | | | even years. |
| cancers and squamous cell cancers--squamous cell | | | | Staying out of the sun and/or tanning booths is the |
| cancers are by far the most common, but much less | | | | best way to protect yourself from skin cancer. If |
| deadly than melanomas. | | | | that is not possible, wearing sun proof clothing is the |
| Australians have the highest rate of skin cancers in | | | | next best option. Suntan oils and lotions protect the |
| the world. Australia has only 0.3% of the world's | | | | skin by reflecting or absorbing ultraviolet rays. Signs |
| population, but has 6% of the lethal skin cancers. This | | | | and symptoms of melanoma include a new spot |
| is thought to be because of the large number of | | | | appearing on the skin, a spot that grows in size or |
| fair-skinned people living in tropical conditions and | | | | changes color or shape. Itching and bleeding are also |
| exposed to tropical sunlight. In their study, | | | | important symptoms. An interesting fact about |
| investigators at the NIH found that the incidence of | | | | melanoma is that it is the most common type of |
| melanoma in young men in the United States | | | | cancer to spread across the placenta in a pregnant |
| increased form 4.7 to 7.7 cases per 100,000 persons | | | | woman. A Dermatologist is the type of doctor to |
| between 1973 and 2004. In young women over the | | | | consult for anyone who is worried about a spot, or |
| same time period, the incidence increased much more | | | | simply wishing to have a thorough skin evaluation. |