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Archive for category: Skin Cancer

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Patient speaking to a doctor about the Early Signs and Symptoms of Cancer

What are the Early Signs and Symptoms of Cancer?

Cancer afflicts approximately one in two men, and one in three women, in his or her lifetime. One of the keys to successful cancer treatment is early detection. Fortunately, screening tools exist for many…
doctor doing skin check to look for differences between atypical and precancerous mole

Atypical vs. Precancerous Moles

Signs that a mole may be precancerous:Asymmetry Hazy or unclear border Multiple colors Large diameter Growing/EnlargingIn recent decades, there has been a tremendous push by the healthcare…

July is UV Safety Month

The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and it is officially summer in the South. Did you know July is UV Safety Month? Here are some skin cancer facts and sun protection tips to get your…
Photo by Fred Benenson

Where is Skin Cancer Most Commonly Found on the Body?

Cancer forms when cells divide out of control. When these cells divide without any checks or balances, they can start to crowd out vital organs and release substances that can create an imbalance in the…
Protect yourself from melanoma and skin cancer.

Melanoma Detection & Prevention

Melanoma Detection & Prevention May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month and the story here is reasonably positive.  Most people know that melanoma is a worrisome cancer…

Scientists Use Deadly Virus to Fight Brain Tumors

Scientists looking for new treatments for patients with brain tumors, including those caused by metastatic melanoma, have turned to an unlikely source: a deadly tropical virus. The virus, called Lassa, causes a deadly hemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa. A team of cancer scientists from Yale and Harvard are altering part of the virus's genetic code, combining it with a different virus, and injecting it into the human brain where they hope it can be used to find and destroy cancer cells.

New Cancer Drug Binimetinib Shows Success in Late Stage Trial

On December 16, Array BioPharma announced its new cancer drug, binimetinib, showed success in stage 3 clinical trials. According to the drug company, binimetinib may be used to treat people with advanced NRAS-mutant melanoma, a particularly deadly form of skin cancer. The trial showed that the drug extended the time it takes for cancer to grow and spread.

FDA proposes ban on indoor tanning for minors

Indoor tanning ban aimed at reducing skin cancer rates in minors. On December 18, in a sweeping move in the fight against skin cancer, the FDA proposed a national ban on indoor tanning for people under the age of 18. Medical experts have called the move an important step in reducing the risk of skin cancer in the United States.
Immunotherapy cancer treatment

Types of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy refers to a type of cancer treatment that attempts to stimulate the body's immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. The immune system is the body's natural defense against germs and disease. The main components of the immune system are the organs, tissues, and fluids that make up the lymph system—including white blood cells. White blood cells, such as T cells, are the substances that actually attack and kill germs or other unhealthy substances, such as cancer cells.

What is Immunotherapy?

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer caused by damage to the DNA of melanocyte cells in the skin. Melanocytes produce melanin, a pigment in skin that is primarily responsible for skin color. When melanocytes DNA is damaged, it may cause the cells to mutate—leading to rapid, uncontrolled growth and the formation of malignant tumors. The goal of immunotherapy for cancer is to overcome these barriers to an effective anticancer immune response. These biological therapies restore or increase the activities of specific immune-system components or counteract immunosuppressive signals produced by cancer cells.