Melanoma
A Cancer Project by Mclane
What is melanoma?
Risk Factors
Melanoma Research Foundation
Website: www.melanoma.org
Phone: (202) 347-9675
Facebook: facebook.com/curemelanoma
Twitter: @curemelanoma
Treatment Options
For early-stage melanoma that is only located near where it started, the five-year survival rate is 98%. The five-year survival rates for melanoma that has spread to the nearby lymph nodes or to other parts of the body are 63% and 16% respectively. Overall, these rates have greatly improved from what they were in the early 1930's, and many melanoma patients are able to be back off their feet and back into their regular life quicker than ever.There are also a variety of support groups around the country, such as CancerCare or the Wellness Community. There are several techniques for treating melanoma, which correspond to the severity of the melanoma. These include:
- Surgery- Surgery is the main treatment option for most melanomas, and usually cures early stage melanomas.
- Immunotherapy- Immunotherapy is the use of medicines to stimulate a patient’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively.
- Targeted therapy- As doctors have found some of the gene changes that make melanoma cells different from normal cells, they have begun to develop drugs that attack these changes. These targeted drugs work differently from standard chemotherapy drugs, which basically attack any quickly dividing cells.
- Chemotherapy- Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs that kill cancer cells. The drugs are usually injected into a vein or taken by mouth as a pill.
- Radiation Therapy- Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (such as x-rays) or particles to kill cancer cells. ("How Is Melanoma Skin Cancer Treated?")
The ABC's of Melanoma (You might be at risk if you see any of the three)
Wipe Out Cancer Gala
Thursday, Nov 19, 2015, 12:30 PM
Peachtree Ridge High School, Old Peachtree Road Northwest, Suwanee, GA, United States
What can you do to protect yourself?
- Avoid the sun during the middle of the day.
- Wear sunscreen year-round.
- Wear protective clothing.
- Avoid tanning lamps and beds.
- Become familiar with your skin so that you'll notice changes. ("How Is Melanoma Skin Cancer Treated?")
Works Cited (Mclane)
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