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About Melanoma
Melanoma is
a form of cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the
pigment melanin). It may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but
can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye or
in the intestines.
About 76,250
men and women (44,250 men and 32,000 women) were expected to be
diagnosed with and 9,180 men and women to die of
melanoma of the skin
in 2012.
From 2005-2009,
the median age at diagnosis for melanoma of the skin was 61
years of age.
Approximately
0.6% were diagnosed under age 20; 6.8% between 20 and 34; 10.7%
between 35 and 44; 18.2% between 45 and 54; 21.6% between 55 and
64; 18.8% between 65 and 74; 16.7% between 75 and 84; and 6.6%
85+ years of age.
The
age-adjusted incidence rate was 21.0 per 100,000 men and women
per year.
US Mortality
From 2005-2009,
the median age at death for melanoma of the skin was 68 years of
age. Approximately 0.1% died under age 20; 2.6% between 20 and
34; 5.6% between 35 and 44; 13.5% between 45 and 54; 19.9%
between 55 and 64; 21.2% between 65 and 74; 24.1% between 75 and
84; and 12.9% 85+ years of age.
The
age-adjusted death rate was 2.7 per 100,000 men and women per
year. These rates are based on patients who died in 2005-2009 in
the US.
Lifetime
Risk
Based on rates
from 2007-2009, 1.99% of men and women born today will be
diagnosed with melanoma of the skin at some time during their
lifetime. This number can also be expressed as 1 in 50 men and
women will be diagnosed with melanoma of the skin during their
lifetime. These statistics are called the
lifetime risk of
developing cancer.
Sometimes it is
more useful to look at the
probability of developing
melanoma of the skin between two age groups. For example, 0.99%
of men will develop melanoma of the skin between their 50th and
70th birthdays compared to 0.60% for women
Prevalence
On January 1,
2009, in the United States there were approximately 876,344 men
and women alive who had a history of melanoma of the skin -
427,810 men and 448,534 women.
>>
See the
online booklet
What You Need To Know About™ Melanoma and Other
Skin Cancers
>> Melanoma
home page at
American Cancer Society
>> Melanoma
Home Page at
National Cancer Institute
>> Melanoma at
Wikipedia
>>
American Academy
of Dermatology |
Immune System Uses Melanoma's Own Proteins to Kill Off
Cancer Cells, Researchers Say
Transfer of cancer building cells to immune system provides crucial
intelligence about the attacking cancer, which facilitates the right
defense to kill the cancer - Feb. 4, 2013
Earlier
Detection of Cancer May Be Enhanced by MIT Discovery with Biomarkers
Collected in Urine
Nanoparticles amplify tumor signals, making them much easier to detect
in urine -
Dec. 17, 2012
Small Test Shows
Treatment’s Potential to Stop Spread of Melanoma Cancer
Treatment uses drug believed capable of stimulating a patient’s immune
system into attacking cancer cells while sparing healthy normal tissue -
Nov. 16, 2012
How Melanoma Skin Cancer Can Resist Chemotherapy is Discovered
Study
results suggest new approach to treating most deadly skin cancer
- Sept.
17, 2012
Discovery of Biomarker for Deadly Melanoma Skin Cancer Offers New Hope
Researchers were able to reverse melanoma growth in pre-clinical studies
- Sept. 13, 2012
Melanoma Skin Cancer May Be More Treatable with New Discovery
Average age of melanoma diagnosis is 61; over 9,000 expected to die in
2012 - more about this skin cancer below news report - Aug. 15, 2012
Secret
to Melanoma Cancer’s Resistance to Treatment Exposed - Hope for Seniors
Researchers
say they have found why treatment is difficult and may have answer for
turning this around - July 23, 2012
Aspirin, Painkillers Ward Off Skin Cancer; Second Study Lets Immune
System Stop Melanoma
NSAIDs
decreased risk for squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma;
advanced melanoma patients see scientist lower cancer barrier to allow
immune system attack - May 29, 2012
Early Success
in Curing Melanoma in Mice Spurs Mayo Vaccine Development
Success with melanoma adds to Mayo Clinic's growing portfolio of
experimental cancer vaccines - March 19, 2012
New
Therapies May Mean More Life for Patients with Advanced Melanoma
Two
new drugs, vemurafenib
(Zelboraf)
and ipilimumab (Yervoy),
showing promise in slowing the progression of this skin cancer - March
16, 2012
Metastatic Melanoma Patients Live Almost Twice as Long with New Drug
Zelboraf (vemurafenib) changes the natural history of the disease to
extend survival - see video - Feb. 23, 2012
Cancer Survivors Face Increased Risk of Melanoma; Melanoma Survivors
Even More
Melanoma the most aggressive, dangerous skin cancer, fifth most common
cancer among men, seventh among women - Dec. 19, 2011
Pre-Melanoma Skin Lesion Found Mostly in Elderly Successfully Removed
with Laser
Lentigo maligna disappears as carbon dioxide laser exerts its effect by
vaporization of water-containing cells - Nov. 21, 2011
Coffee, Favorite Drink of Seniors, Provides Protection from Basal Cell
Carcinoma
Women
get almost twice as much protection as men among 3-cup a day drinkers -
see video - Oct. 26, 2011
Senior Citizens Facing Melanoma Should Worry More About Their Health
Than Their Age
Patients with lower muscle density had much higher rates of their cancer
returning – regardless of the tumor size or patient's age - Aug. 30,
2011
Vitamin D
Appears Linked With Risk of Skin Cancer, Although Relationship Complex
Study looked at vitamin D level in senior citizens with non-melanoma
skin cancers - Aug. 15, 2011
Melanoma
Skin Cancer a Chronic Disease Causing Long-Term Problems for Women
Women need additional care, including follow-up and possibly counseling
to optimally cope with melanoma - Feb. 21, 2011
Senior citizens, the most frequent victims of skin
cancer, need to be aware of how to identify dangerous melanoma skin
cancers before the spread
“Visual images capture our attention and are
persuasive. They also help us to learn and remember,” said Professor
Laurie Hoffman-Goetz, of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and
co-author on the paper. 
"We win because we care, we prepare
and we have no fear," Beth Janicek, board certified personal
injury attorney