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Melanoma

This WisdomCard managed by: Nicole Kinsey

Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which are found predominantly in skin. While melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, if it is treated early it is nearly 100% curable. The primary risk factors are sun exposure, number of moles, skin type and genetics.

Fast Facts:

• -- Around 160,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed worldwide each year
• -- More frequent in males and Caucasians
• -- Most melanomas are black or brown, but some are skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue, or white
• -- Individuals with atypical moles and Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma Syndrome (FAMMM) are at the greatest risk of developing melanoma
• -- An alteration in a recently discovered gene, BRAF, may play a part in causing melanoma

5 Great Resources on Melanoma

• National Cancer Institute (NCI): Melanoma Home Page | What You Need To Know About Melanoma
• American Cancer Society (ACS): Overview: Skin Cancer - Melanoma
• WebMD: WebMD Melanoma/Skin Cancer Health Center
• The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF): Melanoma
• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): Malignant Melanoma

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5 Latest Headlines on Melanoma

Skin Cancer Wire McCain appears with Lance Armstrong, to meet with Dalai Lama McCain Visits German Restaurant _ In Ohio McCain visits German restaurant _ in Ohio - AP Protein Gives Doctors New Tool to Detect Melanoma Buying Wholesale Sunglasses Can Save You A Lot Of Money

• More Melanoma News from Topix

What is Melanoma?

• Wikipedia: Melanoma Article
• Melanoma.com: What is Melanoma?
• SCF: What is Melanoma?
• AAD: What is Malignant Melanoma?
• ACS: What Is Melanoma?
• Healthination Video: Skin Cancer and Your Skin
• MedlinePlus: Melanoma Interactive Tutorial

What Are The Symptoms of Melanoma?

• WrongDiagnosis: Symptoms of Melanoma
• About.com: Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma
• Mayo Clinic: Melanoma: Signs and Symptoms
• eHow: How to Learn About the Skin Cancer Diagnosis Process
• YouTube: Skin Cancer (Melanoma) Public Service Announcement
• FamilyDoctor: What Does a Melanoma Look Like?

Images of Melanoma?

• Flickr: Images for Diagnosing Melanoma
• WikiHow: How To Check for Skin Cancer
• VisualDxHealth: Melanoma: Information for Adults
• DermNet NZ: Melanoma: Images

What Are The Causes and Complications of Melanoma?

• Melanoma Molecular Map Project: Risk Factors
• ACS: What Are The Risk Factors for Melanoma? | Do We Know What Causes Melanoma?
• DermatologyChannel: Melanoma Causes
• WebMD: Causes of Skin Cancer and Melanoma
• Dr. Melissa Stoppler Health Tips Blog: A Tanning Booth Misadventure

What Are The Types, Stages and Survival Rates of Melanoma?

• SCF: Types of Melanoma | The Stages of Melanoma
• NCI: Stages of Melanoma
• ACS: After the Tests: Staging | How Is Melanoma Skin Cancer Staged?
• DermatologyChannel: Melanoma Types
• WrongDiagnosis: Statistics about Melanoma

What Are The Treatments and Medications for Melanoma?

• Melanoma.com: Treatments
• WebMD: Treatment of Melanoma in Primary and Advanced Stages
• SCF: Melanoma Treatments
• NCI: Melanoma: Treatment | Treatment Options by Stage
• ACS: How Is Melanoma Skin Cancer Treated?
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network: Types of Treatment for Melanoma
• eHow: How To Prepare for Skin Cancer Treatments
• SkinCancerConnection Video: Shocking Away Melanoma | Light To Prevent Cancer | Breakthrough For Skin Cancer
• YouTube: Melanoma Diagnosis and Treatment

What Are The Holistic and Alternative Treatments for Melanoma?

• Cancer Treatment Centers of America: Complementary & Alternative Melanoma Cancer Treatment Options
• ACS: Skin Cancer - Melanoma: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
• Acupuncture.com: The Value of Herbs in the Treatment of Cancer
• YouTube: Metastasized Melanoma Cancer Treatment Results After Being Treated with Alternative Complementary and Holistic Health Care

How Do You Prevent Melanoma?

• WebMD: Skin Cancer and Melanoma Prevention
• Mayo Clinic: Melanoma Prevention
• Melanoma.com: Prevention Information
• ACS: Can Melanoma Skin Cancer Be Prevented?
• Healthination Video: Skin Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Wisdom, Stories and Blogs about Melanoma

• Miss Melanoma: The Official Site For the Fun Side of Cancer
• Interferon Experience: My Experience as a Melanoma Survivor
• Fun with Melanoma: Erik's Journal: Surviving Melanoma
• John's Personal Melanoma Blog: Stage 3a Melanoma Patient Chronicles His Journey
• Living With Melanoma Blog: Fighting To Squeeze Every Last Ounce of Time Out of Life
• National Public Radio: My Cancer: Journalist Leroy Sievers Writes a Daily Blog About Life With Cancer
• Healthination Video: True Life Story of Curt Schilling's Wife Shonda
• Carver's Sight or Is That Site?: My Melanoma Diagnosis and More
• Personal Melanoma Blog: Carm's experience of diagnosis, treatment and recovery
• Melanoma Warrior: Personal Journal About Melanoma Recovery
• The Melanoma Blog: Dr. Lynn Spitler on Melanoma News & Notes
• Flickr: Thought It Was Melanoma...It Was Benign Dermatofibroma

Foundations and Support Groups on Melanoma

• American Melanoma Foundation (AMF): Patient Support
• Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF): Supporting Medical Research for Finding Effective Treatments and a Cure for Melanoma
• Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation: Educating the Public on Sun Safety and the Prevention and Early Detection of Skin Cancer, Especially Melanoma
• Melanoma Education Foundation (MEF): Saving Lives Through Education
• Live, Love, & Laugh: Metastatic Melanoma Foundation
• James A. Schlipmann Melanoma Cancer Foundation: Committed to Finding a Cure

Message Boards, Chat and Discussions about Melanoma

• HealthBoards: Cancer: Skin Message Board
• eHealth Forum: Skin Cancer Forum
• Topix: Skin Cancer Forum
• WebMD Forums: Coping With Cancer Support Forum with Lynn Dworzanin, RN | Skin Care: Share Your Tips
• Yahoo Groups: Dealing with Melanoma

Scientific and Medical Journal Articles on Melanoma

• Journal of the American Medical Association: Melanoma Articles
• Google Scholar Search: Melanoma Articles]
• PubMed Central: Melanoma Archives

Clinical Trials on Melanoma

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Melanoma Studies
• Center Watch Search: Melanoma Clinical Trials

Related Conditions/Searches

• Skin Cancer
• Sunburn
• Genetics of Melanoma
• Live Love and Laugh
• Superficial Spreading Melanoma
• Nodular Melanoma
• Acral Lentigous Melanoma
• Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
• Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma

User Recommended Links for Melanoma

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