Melanoma is a malignant tumour of melanocytes. Melanocytes predominantly occur in the skin but can be found elsewhere, especially the eye. The vast majority of melanomas originate in the skin.
Mayo Clinic Study Finds Dramatic Rise in Skin Cancer in Young Adults — Researchers speculate indoor tanning bed use, childhood sunburns are key culprits – Even as the rates of some cancers are falling, Mayo Clinic is seeing an alarming trend: the dramatic rise of skin cancer, especially among people under 40. The incidence of melanoma has escalated, and young women are the hardest hit.
Skin cancer drug hopes raised by study — Advanced melanoma drug nearly doubles survival time – Investigators from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and 12 other centers in the United States and Australia have found that a new drug for patients with metastatic melanoma nearly doubled median overall survival.
FDA: 35 innovative new drugs approved in fiscal year 2011 — Report shows quick approvals of safe and effective medicines occur in the United States before other countries – Over the past 12 months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 35 new medicines for patients, like two new treatments for hepatitis C; a drug for late-stage prostate cancer; the first new drug for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 30 years; and the first new drug for lupus in 50 years.
Tanning bed ban for minors under 18 in California US – Teens and owners object to tanning-bed ban – California toughens teen tanning laws – California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., signed groundbreaking legislation today that will prohibit the use of commercial indoor tanning devices for those under the age of 18. California is the first state to ban minors from using commercial tanning booths.
Pale people may need vitamin D supplements — Fair-skinned people may need extra vitamin D in their diet – Researchers at the University of Leeds, funded by Cancer Research UK, suggest that people with very pale skin may be unable to spend enough time in the sun to make the amount of vitamin D the body needs – while also avoiding sunburn.
NIH-funded researchers discover genetic link to mesothelioma — Identified gene mutation may underlie other cancer types – Individuals who carry a mutation in a gene called BAP1 are susceptible to developing two forms of cancer ? mesothelioma, and melanoma of the eye. Mesothelioma tumors are typically associated with asbestos and erionite exposure.
FDA approves Zelboraf and companion diagnostic test for late-stage skin cancer — Second melanoma drug approved this year that improves overall survival – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib), a drug to treat patients with late-stage (metastatic) or unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
New survey finds teen girls and young women need a lesson on dangers of indoor tanning – Despite repeated warnings from dermatologists on the health dangers of tanning, results of a new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) confirmed that a large percentage of Caucasian teen girls and young women admitted using tanning beds or intentionally tanning outdoors in the past year.
New technique extends cancer-fighting cells’ potency in melanoma patients – Researchers trained white blood cells to attack tumors tend to fade away quickly when injected into cancer patients.
Biomarker test shows promise for melanoma diagnosis – Biomarker test for DNA methylation is technically feasible and could aid in earlier, more precise diagnosis of melanoma, revealed by US researchers.
