melanoma
DESCRIPTION
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes (the cells that give the skin its tan or brown colour) start to grow out of control. Melanoma is much less common than some other types of skin cancers. But melanoma is more dangerous because it is much more likely to spread to other parts of the body if not caught and treated early. In recent years, there has been a dramatic worldwide increase in incidence of melanoma.
Early-stage melanomas can often be treated with surgery alone, but more advanced cancers often require other treatments. Sometimes more than one type of treatment is used. Promising results based on systemic radionuclide therapy represent a novel approach for the therapy of malignant melanoma and are of considerable potential. Intralesional Targeted Alpha Therapies (TAT) for melanoma clinical trials was found to be efficacious and a promising therapy for the control of inoperable secondary melanoma or primary ocular melanoma.
Sources: Cancer.org, SNM Journals, NIH.gov, NHS UK
IN DEVELOPMENT
N/A
PATIENT ASSOCIATIONS
Europe: Association pour la Lutte contre le Mélanome Malin (BEL), Melanoma Patient Network Europe (EU), Vaincre le Mélanome (FRA), Melanoma UK
Worldwide: AIM at Melanoma, Melanoma International Foundation (MIF), Skin Cancer Foundation
North America: Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) (CAN), Skin Cancer Foundation (USA), Cancer Support Community (USA)
CLINICAL TRIALS*
ABOUT MELANOMA
Understanding Melanoma – American cancer Society
Melanoma Treatment – National Cancer Institute NIH
Compassionate Use Program (CUP)
CUP enables patients with life-threatening diseases, such as advanced cancer, to resort to experimental treatments when standard anti-cancer solutions and access to clinical trials are not an option. Access to CUP programs depends on local regulations and can vary from one treatment to another.
Ask your referring physicians for more information regarding CUP.
