Word: melanomas
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...more info, search medlineplus.gov for melanoma, or visit time.com/personal E-mail Christine at gorman@time.com
Because chemotherapy and radiation don't have much effect on advanced melanoma, researchers are experimenting with various drugs and vaccine-like therapies to try to rev up the body's defenses against the tumors. There has been enough success with interferon, says Dr. Ronald Blum, director of the Beth Israel Cancer Center in New York City, to make the immune-boosting drug be considered a standard of care. And, he adds, "for those who can withstand the short but very toxic inpatient treatment program, interleukin-2 can lead to significant reductions in tumor size." In most advanced cases, however...
...lower your risk of developing melanoma by slipping on a shirt, slopping on lots of sunscreen and slapping on a hat when you go outdoors. Look for a sunscreen that absorbs both UVA and UVB radiation. (Sunblocks are also good because they physically prevent the sun's rays from reaching your skin.) But even the best sunscreen won't protect you forever. If it normally takes you 10 min. to burn, a sunscreen rated SPF-15 gives you 15 times 10 min., or 2 1/2 hr. of roasting time. Any more, and you'll exceed your radiation dose...
Dark skin doesn't guarantee protection. Though uncommon, melanoma does occur in men and women of African descent--usually on the palms, soles and underneath the nails...
Know your ABC's (and D's): any moles on your skin that are Asymmetric, have an irregular Border, change in Color or have a Diameter greater than 1/4 in. (6 mm) should be checked immediately by a physician. (Melanomas often grow within a matter of a few months.) Most important, if you are ever diagnosed with a malignant melanoma, follow McCain's example and keep those doctors' appointments. Since his 1993 melanoma, McCain has had his skin checked every three to four months for new cancers. It could very well turn out that he owes his life to that...