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Study of Late Recurrence of Malignant Melanoma

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:38:20 +0000

It seems prudent to have a lifelong follow up even though one is fully recovered by the treatment of skin cancer. The usual time line of 10 years after first cure might not be all conclusive. If the German study as detailed below is any guidance, patients of malignant melanoma should take heart in that late recurrence (10 years or more) is only about 1 percent.

clipped from www.skincaretreated.com

Late recurrence (10 years or more) of malignant melanoma in south-east Germany (Saxony) A single-centre analysis of 1881 patients with a follow-up of 10 years or more

Background Late recurrent melanoma (MM) is rare.Objective In the present study, we analysed the frequency of late recurrent MM in south-eastern Germany.Patients and methods In our centre, 2314 MM patients were documented (1972[ndash]2001). A total of 1881 patients in stage I or II (AJCC) with a follow-up of [ge]10 years were selected and screened for late recurrence ([ge]10 years after diagnosis).Results Twenty patients were identified (1.1%), 13 women and 7 men, median age 44 years (age range 30[ndash]74 years).

The largest period from primary diagnosis to recurrence was 25.1 years with a median of 13.9 years.

Conclusions Late recurrence is a clinical sign of melanoma dormancy. We conclude that late recurrences argue for a lifelong follow-up of melanoma patients.

Tanning Beds Classiifed as Carcinogenic

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:03:58 +0000

People need to be reminded that the use of tanning beds and the like is closely relating to melanoma, and that this deadly cancer can be a build up from uv damages from young age.

clipped from professional.cancerconsultants.com

Tanning Beds Classified as “Carcinogenic to Humans”

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) now classifies tanning beds and other UV-emitting tanning devices as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that these devices cause cancer in humans.[1] Use of tanning beds has been linked with an increased risk of melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer.

The strongest evidence for a link between indoor tanning and melanoma is found among individuals who were first exposed to indoor tanning at a young age. In a combined analysis of previously published studies, individuals who had their first exposure to indoor tanning before the age of 30 were 75% more likely to develop melanoma than individuals who had no exposure to indoor tanning. Exposure to indoor tanning was linked with a more than twofold increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.[7]

Skin Cancer News

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:58:22 +0000

High-frequency ultrasound with elastography will be a great technology to help the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. Here is the news to follow.

clipped from www.medicalnewstoday.com

Special Ultrasound Accurately Identifies Skin Cancer

High-frequency ultrasound with elastography can help differentiate between cancerous and benign skin conditions, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Elastography was found to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions not by their visible appearance but by measuring their elasticity or stiffness. Since malignancies are stiffer than benign growths, elastography, when added to high-frequency ultrasound imaging of the skin, has potential to improve the accuracy of traditional clinical diagnosis of skin cancers and, in some cases, eliminate unnecessary biopsies of benign skin lesions. The procedure is noninvasive, convenient and inexpensive.

Source

Radiological Society of North America

Skin Cancer Action Week in Sydney Australia

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:28:41 +0000

An overwhelming majority of people are still thinking that getting a suntan is a good thing. There is an impending need to make them aware that the tan isn’t worth the risks.

clipped from news.smh.com.au

Bondi kicks off Skin Cancer Action Week

A mock crime scene was set up at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday to warn of the dangers of tanning.

Sunbathers at the iconic beach were greeted by 1,700 beach towels arranged on the sand, each emblazoned with a chalk outline.

The Cancer Council says every towel represents one of the 1,700 Australians who die of skin cancer every year.

“More needs to be done to educate younger Australians about the dangers of getting sunburnt,” Professor Olver said.

“We hope this campaign will help get the message to sink in that a tan just isn’t worth the risk.”

Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70.

Skin Cancer Action Week runs from November 15 to 21.

Melanoma is the second most common cancer in 15-19 year olds, and the most common cancer in people aged 20-29, the council’s figures show.