Q. Isn't melanoma just a fancy word for skin cancer and aren't all skin cancers the same?
A. One of the common misperceptions about melanoma is that it is "just another skin cancer." Far from it. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Most people that die from skin cancer die from melanoma. One reason it is so deadly is that it is very aggressive. In fact, melanoma is likely to kill you if not diagnosed at an early stage.

Another misperception is that melanoma just stays on the skin and it is merely a blotch or mole that should eventually be removed. Not only does melanoma leave the skin by traveling through your bloodstream, it will attack vital organs like your lungs and your brain. Once melanoma travels to other areas of your body, the traditional treatments (radiation, chemotherapy, surgery) rarely work. After it has spread (metastasizes), melanoma kills almost nine out of every 10 victims. Victims of melanoma include the daughter of former President Ronald Reagan (Maureen Reagan), musician Bob Marley and actor Burgess Meredith.

Q. Am I at risk?
A. Melanoma affects people of all ages, all races, all economic levels and both sexes. However, people who are fair-skinned, or who have a large number of moles or freckles, are at greater risk of this disease. Exposure to ultraviolet light, such as that in sunlight or light from tanning beds, is also a risk factor for melanoma.

Q. How common is it?
A. There are more than 51,000 cases of melanoma every year in the United States, but although melanoma accounts for only 4 percent of all skin cancers, it causes approximately 79 percent of skin cancer deaths. About 7,800 Americans die of this disease every year.The overall incidence of melanoma is rising at an alarming rate. In 2001, at current rates one in 71 Americans have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma, a 2000% increase from 1930.

Q. Ok, so what should I do?
A. If caught early melanoma is highly curable. You can catch it early if you check your skin regularily. Please visit the self-exam page on our site and absolutely seek qualified medical help if you see anything suspicious on your skin. Regular dermatological checkups are also highly recommended.

(Above statistics are from Health Scout News and The American Academy of Dermatology)

The ABCD's of checking your moles

A - Assemetry: Normal moles are perfectly round and of normal size.
B - Border: Normal moles have a clean border around them. Bad one's have a scaly spread out looking border.
C - Color: Brown and Black are usually normal. Red, and mixes of colors are BAD and should be immediately checked by a dermatologist.
D - Diameter: Anything larger than a pencil eraser should be removed to prevent unnecessary worries later.

Here is what I experienced while taking Intron A interfeuron-

*All patients receiving INTRON® A experienced mild-to-moderate side effects. Some patients experienced more severe side effects, including neutropenia, fatigue, myalgia, headache, fever, chills, and increased SGOT. Other frequently occurring side effects were nausea, vomiting, depression, alopecia, diarrhea, and thrombocytopenia. DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING SUICIDAL IDEATION, SUICIDAL ATTEMPTS, AND COMPLETED SUICIDES, HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH TREATMENT WITH ALFA INTERFERONS, INCLUDING INTRON A THERAPY.

*Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is intended for general reference purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment. Medical information changes rapidly and while we make efforts to update the content on the site, some information may be out of date.