What Do You know about Melanoma? -- Research Summary

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. Melanoma is caused by changes in cells called melanocytes, which produce a skin pigment called melanin. Melanin is responsible for skin and hair color. A scary fact about melanoma is that it can appear on normal skin or start as a mole. Some moles that have been there since birth can turn into melanoma.

MYTH VS. FACT:

Myth #1: A diagnosis of melanoma means that I have months to live.

There are four stages of melanoma, five if you include a form known as melanoma in situ, which is the earliest form of the disease and affects only the top layer of skin. The depth of the original melanoma is critical to determining how it will be treated and how patients are likely to fare. Although more melanomas are being diagnosed, the largest portion are made up of Stage 1 melanomas.

Myth #2: There is no difference between SPF 30 and SPF 100 sunscreen.

Although the baseline protection from SPF 30 and SPF 100 is not vastly different, the higher number provides longer coverage. One way to think of SPF is by time. If it normally takes you 10 minutes in the sun to burn, an SPF 30 sunscreen protects you for 300 minutes. An SPF 100 should, in theory provide 1,000 minutes of coverage.

Myth#3: If it is a cloudy day, I do not need to wear sunscreen.

About 80 percent of ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth even through clouds. Use a moisturizer with sunscreen daily, especially for areas such as your face that have high exposure.

Myth#4: If I am low in vitamin D levels, I must get some sun exposure.

Although the skin is the most efficient site of vitamin D production, adequate amounts can be obtained from your diet and from supplements. Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium and build strong bones, so we frequently recommend supplements that include vitamin D and calcium. ( Source: The Brigham and Women's Hospital)

NEW TECHNOLOGY: The new test is based on the soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) expression pattern and provides objective results: Melanoma is present if sAC appears in the nucleus of cells from a skin biopsy; the lesion is benign if the nucleus is negative. Most diagnostic stains highlight a particular cell in the biopsy, and if the stain is more intense, the cell tends to be melanoma. However, the meaning of "intense" is somewhat subjective. Investigators say the sAC stain should be used together with other diagnostic tests, such as light microscopy and three other stains currently available. They add that the new stain has the potential for expanded use across all cancers. (Source: http://dermatologytimes.modernmedicine.com) MORE

What Do You know about Melanoma? -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information

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What Do You know about Melanoma? | Medical News and Health Information