ABOUT MELANOMA

THE FACTS

  • Melanoma incidence is rising. Melanoma is the fastest growing form of cancer among the general U.S. population. Incidence has tripled during the last four decades to the point where melanoma is now the 6th most common cancer in American men, and the 7th most common in American women. About 50,000 new cases a year are diagnosed--and 8,000 of these will eventually prove fatal. It is estimated that one in 75 children born in the year 2000 will develop melanoma. 
  • No cure on the horizon. Although there is a high rate of successful treatment for patients when melanoma is detected early enough (95% according to the American Academy of Dermatology), there are no effective therapies for melanoma once it has invaded distant sites such as the lungs or brain. Patients in more advanced stages have limited options and the standard therapy has not changed much in decades. 
  • Melanoma research is lagging. Despite the growing incidence, there has not been a major initiative targeting melanoma in over a decade. Melanoma research suffers from a relative lack of funding from the National Cancer Institute--and unlike research for other cancers, melanoma research does not receive major support from other federal sources or advocacy groups.

THE QUESTIONS

  1. How can we better educate the public about melanoma?
  2. Can we translate research findings into new clinical treatments?
  3. How can we help patients cope with the stress of diagnosis?
  4. Are there molecular markers that can reveal potentially dangerous lesions sooner?
  5. Can we find dependable methods for predicting outcomes in order to develop effective, individualized treatments at the time of diagnosis?

THE CHALLENGES

  • Need for funds. A recent conference at the National Cancer Institute on the current status of melanoma research concluded that this research requires increased funding if progress is to be made. A panel of experts recommended that as a start, NCI funding should be doubled from the current $26 million within five years. Whether this will happen remains to be seen, but for the foreseeable future there is no practical alternative to the private funding of melanoma research. 
  • Need for scientists. There is a pressing need to bring more scientists into melanoma research, and to increase communication among those who are in the field. Because of the lack of funding and organization, relatively few young researchers enter the field. In addition to supporting more funding, the Foundation for Melanoma Research works to put together scientific conferences to support more communication. In the fall of 2002, the FMR will host the First Annual Melanoma Research Congress in Philadelphia. 
  • Need for advocates. The melanoma research field has suffered from the lack of an organization to speak on its behalf. There are no active groups of survivors or advocates to boost public awareness of the need for increasing research. With your help, the Foundation for Melanoma Research is looking to fulfill this role in the melanoma research community.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
EVENTS
2nd Annual Running For Cover
Join us for a fun and fulfilling morning at the Wachovia Complex on June 24, 2007 for the 2nd Annual Foundation for Melanoma Research Running for Cover Run/Walk.
Clark Lecture
March 2002-2006
The foundation supports the annual Clark Lecture and melanoma symposium.

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