Educate Yourself

The Experts answer your questions

Click on a topic to the left for answers to commonly asked questions about melanoma.

THE BASICS

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Its capacity to spread widely to other tissues and organs accounts for those deadly effects. Very early stage (localized, Stage 0 or I) melanoma is greater than 90% curable with surgery, while patients with disseminated Stage IV melanoma have a median life expectancy of less than one year. Trends in the incidence of melanoma show that it is the fastest growing cancer globally and is a significant public health burden. In the U.S. alone, the incidence of melanoma has tripled over the past three decades and is currently one of the top 10 causes of new cancer cases.

Research funded by the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) and others continues to advance our understanding of the causes of melanoma. However, it is already clear that exposure to damaging ultraviolet rays (UV) from the sun or from indoor tanning devices can greatly increase one’s risk. While continuing in its pursuit of a cure through funding cutting edge research, the MRA also encourages the public to be aware of the dangers of melanoma and to take simple steps to reduce their risk.