Melanoma
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer with more than 600,000 new cases diagnosed each year with basal cell and the squamous cell being the most common. The third type, melanoma, is rarer but is the most aggressive.
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According to the American Cancer Society, there will be more than 90,000 new cases of melanoma projected each year.
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The incidences of melanoma have increased over the last 30 years.
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For those using indoor tanning methods, the chances of developing this disease are further increased.
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The National Cancer Institute defines a number of risk factors for developing melanoma, including unusual moles; excessive exposure to natural sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light; family or personal history of the disease; having a fair complexion, and being older than 20 years of age.
Types of
Melanoma
Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type of melanoma (accounting for about 70 percent of all cases).
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This type travels along with the top layer of the skin for a fairly long time before penetrating more deeply.
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Lentigo maligna is similar to the superficial spreading type, as it also grows close to the skin surface before penetrating more deeply.
It usually appears as a flat or mildly elevated mottled tan, brown, or dark brown discoloration.
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Acral lentiginous melanoma also spreads superficially before penetrating more deeply. It is different from the others, as it usually appears as a black or brown discoloration under the nails, on the sole of a foot, or the palm of a hand. It is the most common type of melanoma in African-Americans and Asians and the least common among Caucasians.
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Nodular melanoma has usually spread by the time it is first diagnosed. The malignancy is typically recognized when it becomes a colored bump.
treatment
Options
Although surgery is the most effective way to treat melanoma, many patients present with advanced or metastatic disease. Newer options for these patients include the use of immunological therapies like interferon, interleukin-2 and, more recently, the anti-CTL4 antibody, as well as Ipilimumab. In select cases, Imatinib has also shown efficacy. Newer classes of agents that target the Braf gene are also in development.
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Chemotherapy does not always work as well for melanoma as it does for some other types of cancer, but it may relieve symptoms or help people with advanced disease live longer. Several drugs and combinations of drugs can be used to treat advanced melanoma. The most commonly used chemotherapies for the disease are dacarbazine used either alone or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs such as carmustine and cisplatin. The combination of these three drugs, together with tamoxifen is called the "Dartmouth regimen."
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Temozolomide works similarly to dacarbazine, but it can be given in pill form.
Paclitaxel is administered either alone or combined with drugs such as cisplatin or carboplatin.
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Additional drugs with activity include alkylating agents (Melphalan), vinca alkaloids (Vinblastine) and Bleomycin. We offer a functional profiling test that measures, in the laboratory, how your melanoma cancer cells respond to various drugs BEFORE you receive them. This test helps select the most effective and least toxic drug regimen for your melanoma.
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Call us today at 1-800-542-4357 or contact us via email HERE to see how the Nagourney Cancer Institute can help you identify the most effective melanoma treatment based on your unique tumor makeup.
