Last March ( when the UK had unseasonably sunny weather ) I posted " Sunlight "D"ilemma " on the advantages and disadvantages of sun exposure.


This week Cancer Research UK issued a press release pointing out that death rates from malignant melanoma – the most serious kind of skin cancer – are much higher in men than women, despite similar numbers being diagnosed each year.


( Malignant ) melanoma is a rare type of cancer involving melanocytes ( cells producing melanin pigment ) usually – but not always – in the skin. As with other cancers, the cells undergo purposeless proliferation, may invade surrounding tissues and may spread through lymph system or bloodstream to lymph nodes or other organs.


The main risk factors are excessive exposure to ultraviolet ( UV ) light from sunlight or artificial sources ( sunbeds ) ; pale skin colour ; large number of moles ; and family / personal history of the cancer.


The first sign is often the appearance of a new pigmented area ( " mole " ) or changed appearance of a pre-existing mole.


This is the ABCDE checklist :-
• Asymmetrical – irregular shape
• Border notched or ragged ; may Bleed
• Colours – mixed, usually different shades of brown
• Diameter usually larger than 6mm / ¼ inch
• Evolution and Enlargement – change of appearance with ulceration over time.



Men and women tend to develop melanomas in different places – back and chest for men ; arms and legs for women. Women are more cosmetically aware and tend to visit their doctor sooner than men. There may also be immune factors, men’s immune defences possibly being less good in fighting this cancer.


Melanoma can occur at any age, but it is one of the few cancers which is relatively common in young adults.


It is usually – and best – treated by surgical removal, the earlier the better. Although increasing in frequency in the UK, so also has the chance of survival improved, especially in women. At least 8 / 10 people diagnosed with melanoma survive 10 years.


The outlook for advanced melanoma is not good. However, we know more about the " biology " of this cancer – over half the cases have a faulty gene ( " BRAF " ). This means that instead of chemotherapy ( drugs not just killing melanoma cells but also many normal rapidly dividing cells ), there are now drugs which " target " this gene, with at least partial response. Immunotherapy ( strengthening immune responses ) has also been tried for many years.



The highest frequency of this cancer is in Australia, USA, Scandinavia, as well as UK. It is FAR less common in black populations, the Philippines and elsewhere in Asia. Despite this, local and " health tourist " foreign patients may be treated in such hospitals as " The Medical City " ( Pasig City ), " Asian Hospital and Medical Center " ( Multinlupa ), " Makati Medical Center ", and " St. Luke’s Medical Center " ( Quezon City ).



http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....t=sun+exposure



http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/canc...SiteId=funding