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Shedding Light on Melanoma
Abramson Cancer Center's nationally-recognized pigmented lesion/melanoma group
leads the way in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma.
By 2010, it is estimated that 1 in 50
Americans will develop melanoma, a
potentially lethal skin cancer — a startling
statistic that Penn has every intention
of delaying. And it all starts with the
Abramson Cancer Center of the University
of Pennsylvania's nationally-recognized
Pigmented Lesion/Melanoma Group.
For
more than thirty years, we have been
regarded as the experts in clinical care,
melanoma research and treatment. In fact,
our doctors at Penn were the first to identify the
progressive stages from a mole to early
melanoma, a medical breakthrough that
makes it possible for doctors everywhere
to intercept the disease at a curable stage.
“Penn's breakthrough research in identifying genetic
abnormalities allows us to develop targeted therapies,
thus revolutionizing our ability to treat melanoma,” said Lynn Schuchter, MD, Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology)
and leader
of the Melanoma Program.
Prevention / Prognosis
Here at Penn, information gathered through
melanoma research has increased the
understanding of this disease including:
- Identifying melanoma staging
systems and their ability to
predict the outcome
- Whether the number of advanced
melanomas can be decreased
through sun protection measures
and self-examination for early
detection
- How to predict whether melanoma
has spread to the lymph nodes
The Key to Early Detection of Skin Cancer is Awareness |
To detect the disease early, follow the
ABCDE screening process to be aware
of suspicious moles:
- Asymmetry – Do both halves match?
- Border – Is it uneven or irregular?
- Color – Different shades of tan, brown,
black and pink
- Diameter – Larger than a pencil eraser
- Evolution – Any change in size, shape, color
or elevation of a mole or skin lesion
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Treatment
Beyond expert diagnosis,
the team is also a nationally
recognized interdisciplinary group
of doctors who have worked together
for years in caring for melanoma
patients. Because we are committed
to developing more effective
treatments, the comprehensive
program also features dedicated
research with clinical trials.
This includes a therapy that
blocks several enzymes that
are overactive in melanoma,
significantly enhancing the
effectiveness of chemotherapy.
Melanoma is treatable. Through
early detection and treatment, it can
be one of the most curable types of
skin cancer, which is why where you
turn first matters most.
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