McCain part of growing group of melanoma sufferers

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NEW YORK (CNN) -- The news that Arizona Senator John McCain has been diagnosed with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, brings the grim statistics about the disease into glaring public focus.

EARLY SYMPTOMS bleeding itching change in size, shape or color Click here to see examples of Melanoma     MORE Learn how to do a skin self-exam for melanoma from the National Cancer Institute     RESOURCES Find out more about melanoma

Incidences of the deadly cancer are on the rise.

"Melanoma is really increasing at an alarming rate," said dermatologist Dr. Bruce Katz. "Just 10 years ago, you had a 1 in 250 chance of developing malignant melanoma; now it's 1 in 70."

Nearly 50,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society. The National Cancer Institute estimates melanoma cases have more than doubled in the past 20 years.

Although melanoma accounts for just 4 percent of skin-cancer cases, it causes 79 percent of skin-cancer deaths, the American Cancer Society said. Two other types of skin cancer -- squamous-cell cancer and basal-cell cancer -- are less dangerous.

According to medical records released late last year, McCain developed a melanoma on his shoulder in 1993, putting him at for a recurrence.

Sun exposure is one of the primary risk factors for melanoma, and people who live in the U.S. Sunbelt, which ranges from Virginia to California, are especially susceptible. McCain has admitted spending too much time in the sun in his youth.

Melanoma is also one of the most common cancers among young adults, who may tend to spend more time in the sun.

People with fair skin, red or blond hair, freckles and moles are at higher risk of developing melanoma. People with a family history of the disease are also at higher risk, as are those who have already had it. Dark-skinned people have a lower risk, but can still develop the disease.

Researchers say ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning lights contribute to premature aging of the skin and to skin damage that can lead to melanoma.

Sunscreens with a sun-protection factor of 30 or higher provide better protection than lotions with lesser ratings. Wearing long-sleeve shirts and sunglasses with ultraviolet-absorbing lenses also helps. Staying out of the mid-day sun reduces the risk.

According to the National Cancer Institute, "often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color or feel of an existing mole. Most melanomas have a black or blue-black area. Melanoma also may appear as a new, black, abnormal or 'ugly-looking' mole."

A thorough skin check is important, said dermatologists.

"You have to have somebody look between your toes, definitely the scalp, behind the ears -- those are all places that people miss," said Dr. Deborah Jaliman, a New York dermatologist. "People will have moles that change subtly, and they don't notice it."

The National Cancer Institute suggests "thinking of 'ABCD'" to help remember melanoma symptoms in moles:

  • Asymmetry - the shape of one half does not match the other half.

  • Border - the edges are often ragged, notched, blurred or irregular in outline; the pigment may spread into the surrounding skin.

  • Color - the color is uneven. Shades of black, brown and tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red, pink or blue also may be seen.

  • Diameter - a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas are usually larger than the eraser of a pencil (5 mm or 0.25 inch). Some melanomas may itch or bleed, but they don't usually cause pain.

As with most cancers, early detection can make the difference between life or death for a person with melanoma. Consulting a dermatologist or other physician is recommended for people with questions about a particular mole or other skin lesions.

At its earliest stages, mealnoma may only be present on the surface of the skin. Surgical removal of a mole and sometimes the adjacent tissue is often the first step for a cure.

Depending on how advanced the melanoma is, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy are also options. Treatment becomes more difficult once melanoma has spread beyond the skin and into the blood and lymph nodes.

A course of treatment for McCain will be determined once more is known about the stage of his melanoma.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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American Cancer Society's Melanoma Skin Cancer Resource Center
Melanoma Patients' Information Page
Melanoma Research Foundation
How to Recognize a Melanoma

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