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Skin cancer's secrets unveiled
news.com.au ^ | May 8, 2003 | World exclusive by Jen Kelly

Posted on 05/07/2003 10:54:41 AM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran

WORLD-first Melbourne research into a little-known but deadly skin cancer could save thousands of lives.

Australia has the highest rate of melanomas in the world / AP

Up to 350 Australians die a year because of this cancer, which begins as a tiny pink pimple-like tumour.

But breakthrough research is set to shake up how the public and doctors check for melanomas.

Alfred hospital doctors found that nodular melanomas accounted for less than 15 per cent of melanoma cancers but caused up to 70 per cent of the deadliest type, called deep melanomas.

Most people look only for irregular-shaped brown/black spots.

But the research shows the pimple-like melanoma is the most dangerous.

These are often missed at the start – when survival rates are highest – because people have been taught to focus on common melanomas.

Just one severe case of sunburn can cause a nodular melanoma, which can appear anywhere on the body, often the head or neck. It grows much faster than other melanomas, so short delays in treatment can be fatal.

The Alfred hospital has set up a website to help patients tell normal lumps from nodular melanomas.

Almost half of people with nodular melanomas left undetected until they are deep – thicker than 3mm – will die. If detected early, when thinner than 1mm, the survival rate is 95 per cent.

Study co-author Associate Professor John Kelly said the discovery would save many lives if people followed the advice.

"Worldwide, thousands of lives; and in Australia, if it worked perfectly, we're talking 300, 350 lives a year," said Professor Kelly, head of the Alfred's Victorian Melanoma Service.

"It won't be perfect of course but that's the potential. That's the target."

Nodular melanomas are raised from the start.

They are usually red or pink, round or oval, and grow over months.

The Alfred today launches a campaign to alert the public to the dangers and features of nodular melanomas.

Doctors will receive the information through the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the National Divisions of General Practice.

Many GPs cut out melanomas themselves, without referring to a specialist, so training them to spot nodular melanomas is crucial to saving lives.

The research was sparked because Alfred doctors noticed melanoma deaths had not dropped despite massive awareness campaigns.

"In spite of all the advances in early diagnosis, death rates had risen over the last 40 years progressively," Professor Kelly said.

"We've done a very good job detecting common melanomas early, and there's great public awareness, and very good awareness among not only doctors but health care professionals in general.

"But nodular melanomas are clearly a different problem, and that needs to be addressed."

He said they made up 10 to 15 per cent of all melanomas, but accounted for 60 to 70 per cent of high-risk melanomas. High-risk melanomas, or deep melanomas, are those thicker than 3mm, and are the most life-threatening.

"Nodular melanoma is not being detected early. They look different to what we've generally been teaching people," he said.

Australia has the highest rate of melanomas in the world, with 7000 to 8000 found a year.

About 1000 are nodular melanomas and up to 350 will cause death.

About 800 Australians die a year from all types of melanoma.

Professor Kelly said about half of nodular melanomas would become deep, and about 45 per cent of people with deep melanoma would die.

Two Alfred hospital studies revealing the dangers of nodular melanomas have been published in Archives of Dermatology and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Nodular melanomas can grow to a dangerous thickness in as little as two months, so anyone with a suspect lump for longer than a month is urged to see a GP.

Cancer Council Victoria director Professor David Hill yesterday welcomed the discovery.

"We are lucky in Australia and Victoria to have some of the leading skin cancer researchers in the world, and Professor Kelly is one of them," Professor Hill said.

"This is an important insight to the way in which people and their doctors can become aware of a dangerous form of skin cancer."

Net link: www.alfred.org.au/departments/victorianmelanoma service.html

Or www.sunsmart.com.au


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cancer; melanoma; research; skincancer; studies
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To: hang 'em; TenthAmendmentChampion; libbylu; All
re: the humidity vs. skin cancer incidence issue:

Hang 'em, I took physics in college, your explanation was interesting, but not entirely correct. The amount of water vapor in the air has NO bearing on the amount of UVA, UVB or UVC rays of the sun beating down on the earth's surface.

Refraction of light, yes, will "appear" like more of a thermal/heat burn, but has no bearing from the harmful amount of burning ultraviolet rays of the sun. It is the chemical reactions from the UVA, UVB, ect...that occur within the skin cells that we believe cause skin cancer.

I wrote the American Cancer Society about this, and this was the reply I received this morning:

Thank you for contacting your American Cancer Society.

Your message indicates that you would like to know why skin cancer is far greater in certain parts of the United States than others. It seems you are interested in knowing if humidity is a significant factor in developing skin cancer in these areas.

The vast majority of skin cancers are due to unprotected ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure. Most of this radiation comes from sunlight. People who live in areas with year-round, bright sunlight have a higher risk. For example, the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer is twice as high in Arizona compared to Minnesota. This is because of the length of time the sun is out for longer periods of the day, and the summer season is typically longer in areas like Arizona. Spending a lot of time outdoors for work or recreation without protective clothing and sunscreen increases your risk. The risk is also increased for people who live at high altitudes.

We hope this information adequately addresses your question.

Hope this helps. Be safe this summer everyone.

61 posted on 05/14/2003 7:49:14 AM PDT by kstewskis
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To: kstewskis
To find the effects of atmospheric water vapor on UV here:

http://rain.atmos.colostate.edu/AT622_section10.pdf

and look at the upper right hand figure on the first page. It is a plot of the absorption coefficients for several atmospheric components (e.g. CO, CO2, ozone, NO2, H2O, etc.) The horizontal axis is wavelength in nm (nanometers). UA, UB are roughly in the range 2 to 4 nm. Look at the curve labeled H20. You will see that water vapor (H2O) has an absorption of nearly 100% in at some parts of the UV spectrum. Therefore water vapor can have a significant effect on UV.

Now as to the response from the Cancer Institute, realize that they want people to know that cloud cover is not perfect protection from UV. Of course it's not... BUT IT HELPS! Also, my comparison was meant to be between the SW (e.g. Arizona) and the SE (e.g. Alabama, NOT Michigan), two states at the same latitude, but with vastly different levels of average UV.

Here's a common sense answer to the issue: If you have to be outside naked for 3 hours in the mid day, would you rather it be a cloudy day?
62 posted on 05/14/2003 10:43:17 AM PDT by hang 'em (Forget SARS and AIDS... eradicate the clintoplasmodial slime now!)
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To: hang 'em
Here's a common sense answer to the issue: If you have to be outside naked for 3 hours in the mid day, would you rather it be a cloudy day?

Thanks for the link, but it doesn't change anything. You don't seem to understand that Arizona is not dry 100% of the time. The deadliest UV ray index readings come through here when our dewpoints reach in the 60 degree range.

As for your question, all it would do would be more comfortable while being out there under cloud cover, rather than in the sun. The damage would still be the same.

63 posted on 05/14/2003 10:59:34 AM PDT by kstewskis
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To: kstewskis

Compare AZ (9) and AL (5).

I've lived in both places. As far as the UV death rays go, AZ wins hands down!

64 posted on 05/14/2003 11:19:15 AM PDT by hang 'em (Forget SARS and AIDS... eradicate the clintoplasmodial slime now!)
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
After my cancer doctor did some slice-em and dice-em on my face and ear, and since I am very fair and burn easily, I've taken my doctor's advice and use Blue Lizard, an Australian sunscreen.

http://www.bluelizard.net/BlueLizard/home.html

Great stuff, and though advertised as SPF 30+ doctor tells me that it's about SPF 100, but can't be advertised that way. Like the way it protects, but doesn't make your skin a greasy mess the forces you to sweat profusely.

Effective when chartering a yacht for a winter week in the Virgin Islands, but I did visit a tanning salon for a couple of visits before the trip to get a base coat of UV exposure.

Blue Lizard is hard to find, but their web-site has a retail locator. About $15 a bottle.
65 posted on 05/14/2003 11:32:45 AM PDT by aShepard
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To: hang 'em
I've lived in both places. As far as the UV death rays go, AZ wins hands down!

there's no question about that! I've said it, and it's been stated ad hominem in research. It is well known.

The point is, humidity in the air is a "false" protection idea, in thinking that the UV rays aren't as harmful.

As far as humid Flori-duh and Texas, I guarantee you that someone living in Miami or Houston doesn't give a rat's patutti whether the index is a 9 there or a 10, as it is in AZ. Fact is, it's all deadly. When you live with malignant melenoma because you've spent too much time getting exposed to UV, it really doesn't matter, does it?

And, according to the graph you posted, it proves my point. I had mentioned Hawaii earlier. They have high humidity there, and the index surpasses even AZ.

Just my humble O, granted, places like Alabama aren't destination resort-type places that people flock to. The humidity is so high in those areas in the country, no one stays outdoors for long in the summer months. So, therefore, less chance of UV exposure would be expected.

That is reason why the ACS states it's the rate of exposure. You can spend a lot more time in the sun in the other areas where the index isn't as high, and expect to have the same damage as someone only spending a smaller amount of time outdoors in AZ when the index is high. That's all that means.

I've lived in the SW for 40 years and have been in the sun much of that time. Thanks be to God, I'm skin-cancer free, according to my last check this month.

My prayers go out to those who's spent a lot of time in the sun, without the protection, (who live where the indexes are less than AZ) who are battling skin cancer now.

66 posted on 05/14/2003 12:08:18 PM PDT by kstewskis (we may not agree...but I still like your tag lines ;))
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To: hang 'em
One more thing I'd point out, might be of interest. The date on the graph (thanks, btw) is 5/15. Skies are overcast all over the Phoenix Metro area today.

UV index is still at 10. It will stay that way through most of the summer (I've actually seen it hit 11 in the papers...during monsoon season.)

67 posted on 05/14/2003 12:13:26 PM PDT by kstewskis (we may not agree...but I still like your tag lines ;))
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To: aShepard
thanks for that link!
68 posted on 05/14/2003 12:13:59 PM PDT by kstewskis (G'day!)
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
Most Australians grow up as beach babies,and 20 years ago it was rare for anyone to be using sunblock.Milky white or tan,it makes little difference to who gets skin cancer when you spend half your life on the beach.
69 posted on 05/14/2003 12:23:27 PM PDT by armed_in_sydney
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To: aShepard
Thank you for the information on Blue Lizard. I am a red headed, green eyes, very fair skinned human. I went through severe sunburns and sun poisoning as a kid on our boat.

I just got on the crew of a sailing race team and am looking for a new high powered sunscreen.
70 posted on 05/14/2003 12:23:55 PM PDT by Hillary's Lovely Legs (Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death)
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
My dad died of melanoma last June. Since then, we've slathered our sons in BullFrog every time they go into the sun for any length of time. It works great. Applies easily, smoothly and without getting your hands all greasy. We se the watermellon scented type for the boys and the plain for us adults. I buy it by the case when I can get it.


71 posted on 05/14/2003 12:32:21 PM PDT by FourPeas
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
"I just got on the crew of a sailing race team "

Good on you! Have fun.

As a kid, I had a crewcut, and sailing all day long made the top of my head an absolute mess. Now I have to wear a wide brim hat. Looks dorky, but a baseball cap keeps the top of what's left of the top of my ear exposed.
72 posted on 05/14/2003 12:40:23 PM PDT by aShepard
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To: FourPeas
ACK! Make that BullFrog. Now, I'm off to write "The preview button is our friend" one hundred times.
73 posted on 05/14/2003 1:26:39 PM PDT by FourPeas
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To: kstewskis
It's even more overcast here (AL).

If you can, open this .pdf file

http://nadp.nrel.colostate.edu/UVB/publications/uvb_primer.pdf

Page eight (8) shows UV measurements for a clear day and a cloudy day, same place. Pretty much lays the issue to rest... Except: thin clouds and thick clouds can have different effects.
74 posted on 05/14/2003 2:36:34 PM PDT by hang 'em (happy physical "terroristry")
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To: hang 'em
can you post it? I'm unable to open this link. thanks
75 posted on 05/14/2003 2:42:31 PM PDT by kstewskis
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I just had a spot removed from my back this afternoon that I was concerned about. It was also getting annoying because it was right on my bra line. The doc seems to think it is just a dermatofibroma. It popped up about 4 years ago after I had my son. Then I noticed it started to change colors...it got darker. I won't find out anything till next week, but hopefully it is nothing.
76 posted on 05/14/2003 2:49:17 PM PDT by rangerwife
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To: kstewskis

To illustrate these effects (primarily for clouds), the plots in Figure 7 are actual field measurements of UV irradiance at 305 nm on a clear day and cloudy day in Texas on March 28 (clear) and 30(cloudy). While there is cloud cover the entire day on the 30th, the UVB irradiance is still significant. As is illustrated in the previous figure, thin clouds actually scatter a significant portion of the UVB toward the earth while thick clouds scatter most back to space. Thus, clouds are not necessarily good protection from sun-burn.

The above is an excerpt from

http://nadp.nrel.colostate.edu/UVB/publications/uvb_primer.pdf

and can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader/viewer available free. (Good reference on UV and skin cancer)

77 posted on 05/15/2003 7:04:29 AM PDT by hang 'em
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To: TenthAmendmentChampion
Here in NM the problem is altitude. Working at 7500ft means you are above most of the atmosphere. (I did have a cancer removed from the nose. It was the least problematic one but I don't remember which.)

Sunscreen is a good idea.

http://www.maui.net/~southsky/introto.html#basal
78 posted on 05/15/2003 7:15:54 AM PDT by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: ravingnutter
If you're really hard core you can grab those skin tags between your thumb and forefinger and just rip em off :)

We had a laborer a few years back who had a thumb sized one on the back of his neck. A project manager saw it one day and exclaimed "What the HELL is that!?!? Is that your unformed twin??? I thought it just winked at me!"
79 posted on 05/15/2003 7:21:19 AM PDT by Axenolith (but I still _feel_ free... maybe you should try shooting me again.)
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