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| hope1979 Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 4/1/2004 4:09:08 PM by hope1979 | Important Information for ALL Travelers! posted on: 4/1/2004 1:18:41 AM This post is a tribute to the founder of the Backpackers Bulletin Boards. Known to this community as Mouse, she was diagnosed with a recurrent malignant melanoma (skin cancer) and fought a month-long battle with the illness before succumbing on March 28, 2004. Mouse was a kindred spirit with a breadth of knowledge spanning from anything travel-related, to cooking, to reading, to hiking…to evolutionary biology and the Paleolithic age! Most of all, Mouse worked tirelessly to take this information and to share it with other travelers, in the hopes of inspiring them and encouraging camaraderie. She shared freely and gave herself freely to the community of backpackers, and it is my hope that, in sharing this information, Mouse's legacy will be able to help travelers to explore the world long after she is gone – travelers with her same love for life; those who share her spirit. Here’s the kicker though: 1001 people were surveyed by the Center for Disease Control through telephone in 1995. Respondants were asked, "Can you tell me what melanoma is?"; 55% knew melanoma is a type of cancer, 34% knew it is a type of skin cancer, and 42% did not know about melanoma! Be aware. Prevention is key. Spread the word! The Skin Cancer Foundation NCI Melanoma Page National Melanoma Research Foundation Look for moles or skin lesions - you probably want to photograph certain moles to see if they're changing size - that may have one or more of these characteristics: ABCD How to do a proper skin self-examination The Best Self-Diagnosis Tutorial EVER! In general, warning signs are a change in shape, change in color, change in size, inflammation, crusting, or bleeding. If “moles” do any of these things, see your doctor as soon as possible. Surprisingly, your skin is the largest organ in your body. Skin is composed of two main layers: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis contains keratinocytes, cells which produce keratin, making your skin waterproof and protecting you from dehydrating. Cells in the epidermis can become cancerous, leading to squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas. BUT – these skin cancers rarely result in death. Why? The epidermis has no blood supply. At the junction of the epidermis and dermis are melanocytes, cells that produce melanin, the pigment found in skin. These are the cells that become cancerous in melanoma. Cancer is when cells begin to grow unchecked and stay in a dividing, primitive state. Beneath the melanocytes is the dermis, which is contains many blood vessels. Because cancerous melanocytes (melanomas) lie so close to these vessels, it is easy for DEEP LESIONS to break away and spread into the bloodstream and lymphatic vessels. This is called metastasis. Metastatic melanoma is virtually incurable, and probably one of the most deadly forms of cancer. You can see the layers of skin here:  Please take melanoma risks seriously! Check yourself and encourage others to do self-skin exams. Don’t be shy about asking a doctor about a suspicious mole. Remember that a quick self-check can save your life! Other links of interest: The Melanoma Research Foundation MUST-SEE LINK FOR ALL TEACHERS/EDUCATORS! Miles for Melanoma There are many ways to make a difference! Just by reading this you have contributed. Thank you. References: Abeloff: Clinical Oncology, 2nd ed., (2000) Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment - 43rd Ed. (2004) Internal Medicine, Stein - 5th Ed. (1998) Merck Manual - 17th Ed. (1999) Centennial Edition |
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