The incidence of melanoma is rising dramatically, and despite efforts at screening, mortality has not decreased appreciably. 

The incidence of melanoma is increasing. Based upon data obtained between 2004 and 2006, the lifetime probability of developing melanoma in the United States is estimated to be 1 in 37 for men and 1 in 56 for women. This risk is substantially greater than noted in 1985 and 1965, when the lifetime risks for both sexes combined were estimated to be 1 in 150 and 1 in 600, respectively. 

In the United States, melanoma is the fifth leading cancer in men and the seventh in women.

Clinical and epidemiologic evidence demonstrates higher rates of melanoma in people with extensive or repeated intense exposure to sunlight. The majority of melanomas develop on sun-exposed skin, particularly in areas that are more susceptible to sunburn. Individuals with naturally dark skin or whose skin darkens easily upon sun exposure have lower rates of melanoma, supporting the concept that greater penetration of UV light into the skin results in a higher risk.

Ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B, wavelengths 290 to 320 nanometers) appears more closely associated with the development of melanoma than UV-A (wavelengths 320 to 400 nanometers).  Melanomas tend to be associated with intense, intermittent sun exposure and sunburns and they frequently occur in areas exposed to the sun only sporadically (eg, the back in men, the legs in women).

Here, Dr. Tony Talebi discusses the treatment of metastatic stage 4 melanoma with world renowned melanoma expert Dr. Jeff Weber, professor of medicine at the Moffitt Comprehensive Cancer Center.  The discussion includes symptoms, cause, diagnosis, staging, surgery, IL-2, chemotherapy, ipulimumab (Yervoy), and BRAF-inhibitor vemurafenib (Zelforab) treatment of melanoma, Melanoma prognosis, what causes melanoma, signs of melanoma, melanoma symptoms, melanoma, melanoma stage 4, treatment of melanoma, melanoma association, stage four melanoma, small cell melanoma, symtoms of melanoma,causes of melanoma, melanoma chemotherapy, what is melanoma, melanomas, melanoma information, melanoma prevention, stage 4 melanoma, information about melanoma, stage iv melanoma, melanoma signs, melanoma symptom, is melanoma curable, stage 3b melanoma, lungs cancer symptoms, survival rates for melanoma,symptoms of melanoma, melanoma survivors, melanoma symptons, melanoma survival, treatments of melanoma,symptons of melanoma, melanoma statistics, non small cell melanoma, chemo for melanoma, melanoma survival rate, large cell melanoma, effects of melanoma, melanoma screening, melanoma diagnosis, melanoma society, melanoma clinical trials, melanoma metastasis, survival rate melanoma, symptom of melanoma, info on melanoma, new treatments for melanoma, how common is melanoma.

Dr. Jeff Weber Credentials:

Titles:

• Director, Donald A. Adam Comprehensive Melanoma Research Center

Department/Program Affiliations:

• Cutaneous Oncology  
• Immunology  

Primary Address:

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center

Education & Training:

• Fellow, National Cancer Institute, 1990 - Surgery Branch, Tumor Immunology
• Fellow, National Cancer Institute, 1988 - Surgery Branch, Tumor Immunology
• Fellow, National Cancer Institute, 1986 - Medicine Branch
• Resident, University of California, 1983 - Medicine
• Intern, University of California, 1981 - Medicine
• MD, New York University Medical Center, 1980
• PhD, Rockefeller University, 1979 - Molecular Cell Biology