Melanoma cases on the rise
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in the skin’s pigment-producing cells, called melanocytes. These cells make melanin, which is responsible for the color in skin and eyes. Exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight is the leading cause behind melanoma. Researchers think that when the sunlight hits the skin, enough UV radiation exposure can damage the DNA in melanocytes, causing them to grow out of control into a tumor. Yet melanoma can occur anywhere on the body where there is melanin, including the eyes and small intestines. The National Cancer Institute says that only two percent of all skin cancers are melanoma, so it is very rare, but it's starting to grow in prominence among all skin cancers. Of all types of skin cancer, melanoma is the deadliest. In 2017, the National Institute of Health estimated a total of 87,000 new cases of melanoma leading to 9,700 deaths.
At our own local screening at Great Plains Health, we screened a total of 80 patients, with two confirmed cases of melanoma. I hope in reading this report, you will learn to guard yourself from the dangers of melanoma, including how to take good care of your skin.
Todd Hlavaty, MD Radiation Oncology Director Cancer Committee Chairman
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