Melanoma Awareness.

I had to write a research paper in my Anatomy and Physiology class over a disease that interested me. So....I of course wrote about melanoma. The disease itself, after researching it, is really fascinating. One, anyone is susceptible to it. All it takes is 3 sunburns during your adolescent years to put you at high risk for melanoma. I can probably think of 8 during my lifetime, and I am sure there are more, especially when I laid in the tanning bed, and would first get a burn to start my "base tan". I finished my paper today, and although it is probably not my best, I am very proud of the knowledge I gained from it (I already knew a lot, thanks to Jeanette's insight!), and the precautions that I am now aware of to take, not only for myself, but I can make sure that Reecie is well taken care of. If you have a chance, read my paper and leave a comment, good or bad, about what you think. One of the most amazing women that I know inspired me to write it, and if we can prevent one person from getting this disease, it was all worth the while. Thanks Jeanette!!

• P.S. A "better" picture will replace this one soon. She told me today that she wanted to at least  be able to put on a little lipstick!!! Jeanette is an inspiration to anyone who has had any adversity to face.....do it head on!

My Paper:
Melanoma - The Deadly Skin Cancer

Of the three types of skin cancer, Melanoma is the most severe and dangerous. Melanoma, which is cancer of the melanocytes, can begin wherever there is pigment in the body, most commonly on the skin. However, it can also occur in the eye, and mucous membranes located throughout the body in the nose, sinuses, mouth, anus, and external genitalia. Melanoma is relatively common, and if caught early, is highly treatable. Once it metastasizes, or spreads, a patient's chance for survival is only 5%. Once it begins to spread, it works its way through the lymphatic system, metastasizing through the regional lymph nodes in the vicinity of the primary melanoma site, and may also spread to the lungs, liver, and central nervous system (www.sleh.org).

There are several causes and "risk factors" for melanoma. The major cause of melanoma is excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun. People who are fair skin, with blond hair and blue eyes, are at a higher risk to develop melanoma in their lifetime, as opposed to darker skin people. Heredity also plays a part in whether or not someone will get melanoma. Also, if a person has had one melanoma previously, there is a great risk they will develop a second (Professional Guide to Diseases). People who have numerous moles and excessive freckles also have a greater chance in developing melanoma than those who do not.

People, who have a family history of atypical moles or freckles on their skin, should be vigilant about checking for melanoma. Atypical moles and freckles can be checked by following the ABCDE guidelines. These guidelines stand for asymmetry, border irregularity, color variegation, diameter, and evolving. Any mole, nevus, or lesion that has an asymmetrical shape, an irregular border with notches or dents, a mixture of brown and black colors, that is more than the size of a pencil eraser, or has had any changes whatsoever in texture, color, or size, should immediately be seen by a doctor for a possibly biopsy and diagnosis (www.skincancer.org).

There are four stages of melanoma. Early melanomas that are located on the skin, with a threat to spreading to regional lymph nodes are classified as Stage 1, when they are detected early and thin. Stage 2 melanomas are thicker, and can only be classified by a distinction made by a pathologist. Once melanoma spreads to the lymph nodes, it is considered Stage 3. In Stage 4, the melanoma has metastasized and is located in distant parts of the body compared to the primary site. As mentioned before, these sites normally tend to be the lungs, liver, and the brain (www.sleh.org). Once melanoma reaches a stage 4 diagnosis, the patient's chance for survival is very small.

Treatment for melanoma skin cancer usually depends upon which stage the patient has. In most cases, when caught early in stages 1 or 2, the melanoma can be surgically removed from the skin. During these stages, the lymph nodes are also dissected and may be surgically removed also, depending on the number of lymph nodes the tumor has spread to. If the melanoma has reached stage 3, the lymph nodes affected may be to numerous for surgical removal and a therapy known as adjuvant therapy will be used. This treatment involves the use of alpha interferon, which is an immune stimulant drug. Once melanoma has metastasized, patients are commonly treated with chemotherapy, even though melanoma is resistant to this treatment. If a patient were to mildly respond to this, the outcome is usually short-lived, and their melanoma usually progresses. There is also a treatment known as biotherapy which is the use of immune stimulant drugs Alpha Interferon and Interleukin. In approximately 20% of patients, this therapy will help gain control of the cancer. Radiotherapy is commonly used in patients when the melanoma has metastasized to the brain. This treatment allows the tumor to be treated itself, sparing the brain tissue surrounding it (www.sleh.org).

At St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas, there is another form of treatment for Metastatic Melanoma patients that has proved to be most beneficial. It combines chemotherapy with the biotherapy drugs, Alpha Interferon and Interleukin. This form of treatment has produced response rates in 40-60% of melanoma patients, and 20% of patients have been able to have complete control over their melanoma. The treatment is very severe to the body and highly associated with toxicity. Patients must stay hospitalized to receive the treatments so they can be monitored around the clock. These treatments are only available in few places around the world (www.sleh.org).

Prevention of melanoma is quite simple. The most important thing to do is to protect yourself whenever you are in the sun. To do this, one should try to stay out of the sun between peak hours of the day which are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., wear protective clothing, one which includes a hat, and always use sunscreen. The sunscreen should always be at least 15 SPF and it should protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Also, people should not go to tanning salons. People who have a genetic disposition to melanoma should check their skin every month, paying close attention to the moles, freckles, and other abnormalities of their skin such as lesions and birthmarks, for any changes pertaining to the ABCDE guidelines. You should also look for any new occurrences that come up on your skin. Although the biggest concern should be areas that are exposed to sunlight, it can be found in other parts of the body, so it is best to be aware of the markings all over the body (www.webmd.com).

In conclusion, melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer a person can get. Most people have the capabilities to prevent this deadly disease by taking minimal precautions such as avoiding the sun and tanning beds, and always wearing sunscreen. For those who cannot avoid it, the best prevention is to know your body and it's markings, and watch for any changes and to see a dermatologist or physician for anything abnormal. Melanoma, if not preventable, is treatable, if it is caught early. When it is not caught early, the consequences can be deadly.

**Authors note:

A personal friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in August of 2007. She went through numerous CT scans, MRI's, and PET scans at many of the hospitals in Nashville hoping for a cure, or at least a treatment for her condition. All of the doctors that she visited suggested chemotherapy, with a couple pushing for the Alpha Interferon and Interleukin. These are the only treatments available in the Nashville area, and the several states surrounding Tennessee. Upon visiting her dermatologist, she learned of two men in Nashville whom had both had the same diagnosis as she had, and went to St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas to undergo biochemotherapy. Although the process was long and difficult, both were still alive today, 20 years later! This is unheard of for metastatic melanoma patients! She met with these gentlemen, called their doctor, and went to Houston to undergo the treatment herself (a series of 5 treatments, 1 week every 3 weeks) in October. Unfortunately, after her second treatment, she contracted a severe bacterial infection in the hospital which left her almost comatose for 2 months. When she woke up and began to recover, the attending doctor sent her home to recuperate and receive much needed physical and occupational therapy. She is doing fantastic now, and is going back to Houston for an assessment in early March. Her doctor will not do any more of the biochemotherapy treatments on her, but will look to other options. However, when she goes back, they will assess her cancer, which the two previous treatments could have eradicated completely anyway. Of course, we are all praying for that outcome, and my friend is also looking into some alternative medicine treatments, which have promising statistics as well. For the time being, she is happy to be home and feeling better, and she will meet the next challenge head on, just as she did the last.