Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Doctors warn about high melanoma risk in Utah, urging sun protection measures.
- Melanoma prevention includes sunscreen, protective clothing, and avoiding tanning beds.
- Intermountain Health offers new immune therapy for advanced melanoma with 33% success rate.
MURRAY — With summer in full swing and people spending more time in the sun, doctors are warning about the risks of skin cancer.
An estimated 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, and of all skin cancers, melanoma is the most dangerous. More than 100,000 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma last year.
Utah has one of the highest melanoma rates, about twice the national average.
"Unlike the basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers, which have a very low likelihood of spreading, melanoma is very common to spread to other parts of the body, whether that's the lymph nodes, or distant organs like the lungs, the liver or even the brain," said Dr. Caroline Nebhan, a medical oncologist at Intermountain Health.
Risk factors for melanoma can include elevation, age, family history and genetic factors and skin tone.
"Folks with lighter skin tones, their risk of skin cancers is higher; however, it's really important to realize that people with any skin tone can get melanoma," Nebhan said.
Melanoma prevention tips
- Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating. Check the expiration date, as most sunscreen products have a shelf life of two to three years.
- Stay covered with long sleeves, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats.
- Seek shade when possible, especially during peak sun hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
- Avoid tanning beds.
"I absolutely recommend against tanning beds, period," Nebhan said. "About 20 minutes in a tanning bed is equivalent to two hours in about the noontime sun."
To check for melanoma, use the alphabet.
- Asymmetry: Look for asymmetric or unequally sized moles.
- Border: Look for spots with jagged borders.
- Color: Look for spots with varying colors.
- Diameter: Look for large spots. Any moles bigger than the eraser of a pencil should be checked out.
- Evolving: Look for any developing or changing moles.
See your dermatologist once a year for a full-body skin exam.
"The earlier we can catch any kind of cancer, the better chance we have of a good long-term outcome for patients," Nebhan said.
Intermountain Health now has a new treatment option for people with advanced melanoma. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy uses the patient's immune system to target and destroy the cancerous cells. This treatment involves isolating immune cells, or lymphocytes, from the patient's tumor, expanding them in a lab, and then reintroducing them back into the patient to fight the cancer.
Clinical trials showed a 33% success rate, meaning one-third of patients who had received the treatment saw a significant improvement in their tumor.
"While that number is not as high as we would like, it's really important to remember this is a group of patients that have seen a lot of treatment already, and so for many, there's no other good options," Nebhan said. "I think this will bring hope to folks that otherwise might not have a lot of hope in this situation."
For more information, visit Intermountain's website or call 833-321-3332.
