You will discover and can investigate many trusted informational sites dealing with topics from Prevention and Diagnosis to Research, Management and Care. The plethora of links should help you become educated in all areas of skin cancer and melanoma, as well as provide tools for additional assistance in areas of care and management.  My goal is to continually add and update new research and discoveries and offer you quick resources. Please take time to discover  how many areas of interest are represented here.  I am anxious to learn if you are able to utilize the library with positive results.  You may contact me at Linda@sunblitz.com .

Directory of this page: Peruse For Your Quick Search.
Today's Climate    Resource Evaluation    Medical Malpractice    Hospitals & MD's    Melanoma Prevention       Diagnosis    Medical Treatment    Patient Management    Patient Rights    Research & Statistics    Health Statistics

Dictionary : More effective than most search engines, for single word medical searches. Click on Dictionary, and enter the aspect of melanoma research you are interested in. When the definition comes up, scroll down to "Get the Top 10 Most Popular  Sites" for (the word you entered). Clicking on this sentence will bring up an excellent collection of sites with complete descriptors of what you can expect to find.  (Great for quality information and time management).

Today's UV Index:
Graphical Map : (provides a map of the US with daily UV Index values placed accordingly for the original 58 cities)
Contoured Map : (provides a map of the US that is contoured with appropriate intensity colors for daily UV Index values across the entire US)

Resource Evaluation:  Spend a few moments learning how to evaluate information sources   on the Internet.

Medical Malpractice: Assume Nothing!
    " As one matures, he can join any number of groups that are totally organized and will organize his life for him. There is no real need for independent thought, independent feeling, or independent action, if he wants to avoid them. Group loyalty is to be expressed by being discreet with outsiders about group activities."--John Lilly MD

About That Second Opinion  : Right (or wrong), his concept of groupthink continues to capture the imagination of those who have seen close-knit groups make terrible decisions. It is your life they are discussing!

Report of medical error deaths on target or exaggerated? - July 5, 2000 : The Journal of the American Medical Association this week contains conflicting evaluations of a widely noted report that as many as 98,000 people die each year from medical errors in American hospitals.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) last November claimed more people die in American hospitals from medical mistakes than die nationwide from better known causes including highway accidents, breast cancer or AIDS. Source: CNN July 5, 2000

Medical Malpractice : Actionable MEDICAL MALPRACTICE . . .(also called medical negligence) occurs when a physician fails to properly treat a medical condition and the negligent act or omission is the cause of a new or aggravated injury to the patient.

Cancer - Kansas City Pharmacist Diluted 150 Cancer Drugs: Officials : KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug 22, 2001 (Reuters) - Federal investigators asked a judge on Wednesday to freeze $6 million in assets controlled by a Missouri pharmacist accused of diluting life-saving cancer drugs for chemotherapy patients.

Medication Errors : The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention defines a medication error as "any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional practice, health care products,  procedures, and systems, including prescribing; order communication; product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature; compounding; dispensing; distribution; administration; education; monitoring; and use."

Multidisciplinary Second Opinion Institutions : The following institutions have advised they will, when specifically requested by a cancer patient, provide a multidisciplinary second opinion where doctors representing each discipline which could treat the patient's cancer meet together at the same time with the patient.

Selecting Physicians & Hospitals

MEDLINE plus: Directories : Selecting a physician.

A MA Online Doctor Finder : AMA Physician Select provides basic professional information on virtually every physician in the United States and its possessions, including more than 690,000 doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathy or osteopathic medicine (DO).

HealthGrades : HealthGrades helps assess and improve the quality of healthcare nationwide. With its proprietary objective provider ratings and expert advisory services solutions to ensure quality healthcare Hospitals (Over 5,000) |  Physicians (Over 620,000) | Nursing Homes (Over 16,000) |  Home Health Agencies (Over 7,000)

Best hospitals: Cancer : The best cancer centers take difficult cases and run many clinical trials. Kansas City is not on list!

The Visiderm (R) Skin Monitoring System is an educational, easy-to-use, comparison system that improves personal awareness of changes in color, size, shape, and other features of moles or pigmented skin spots that may signal skin cancer and melanoma."

SunPal Can Help Prevent Sunburns : All About Technologies's(AAT) SunPal Exposure Monitor is designed to help people prevent sunburn. The SunPal comes in two formats: a small stick-on patch that's attached to exposed skin or clothing and a narrow band that can be worn on the wrist or ankle. Not an endorsement. (let me know if anyone has used this).

Looking for Trouble: How to Spot Signs of Melanoma : Have you taken a look at your moles lately? It seems like an odd question, but knowing the difference between a normal mole and an abnormal growth could save your life.

Read Dana Lepow's Story : "Be proactive in your health care, heed the warning signs and then follow up with doctors.  Following up is how you stay alive!"

Melanoma: Sun Safety for Kids : Melanoma Prevention provides important information to help you protect yourself from the sun's harmful ultraviolet

The Darker Side of Tanning : Public health experts and medical professionals are continuing to warn people about the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, tanning beds, and sun lamps.

A Healthy Glow? The Dangers of Tanning Salons : Search My Health Manager, Resources, Home, Health Centers, Senior's Health, Men's Health, Children's Health, Women's Health, Sports Medicine, Pulmonary Center, Nutrition Central, Medical Advances, Emergency Dept., Cancer Center...

Dermatopathology This Cornell University/Weill Medical College site is a must see reference for graphics, photos and melanoma primer.

ACS: How is melanoma skin cancer diagnosed? If the abnormal appearance of an area of your skin raises the possibility of skin cancer, additional medical examinations and tests will be used to be sure whether this is melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer or some other skin condition.

Diagnosis of melanoma YOU CAN BE AN EXPERT AT DIAGNOSING MELANOMA How to Recognize MELANOMA* The following presentation is one approach to learning the differential diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions. This tutorial is intended for second year medical students

Online Diagnosis   Accurate online medical diagnosis of symptoms, illnesses, diseases, and psychiatric disorders. Helen T. Rosenthal, MD; Sarah J. Thompson, MD; David Mann, MD; Joanne F. Masterson, MD

    Note: Take time to look at the pictures of malignant melanoma , basal cell carcinoma , and squamous cell carcinoma . Recognizing abnormal growths on your body is extremely important in preventive maintenance.

Malignant melanoma   |  Basal Cell   |  Squamous Cell Carcinoma : Intro to Tumors of the Skin: University of California Davis

Nevus Info : WHAT IS A NEVUS?   Nevus (pronounced knee-vus), a Latin word meaning "birthmark," or "mole," is a general term for a congenital mark on the skin.  Mole is Latin for "spot."  Congenital means "born with." Nevi (pronounced knee-vi) is the plural of nevus. Congenital nevi are moles present at birth. Source: Nevus Network 2002.

Anti-Malignin Antibody -- A Screening Test for Cancer? : I have received about ten inquiries in the past few years about the "anti-malignin antibody in serum" blood test (AMAS). This is said to be an extremely accurate way of determining whether cancer is present somewhere in the body.

Skin Evaluation Clinic : M. D. Anderson's

Read Kay Havens' Story : "I was aware that I was a high risk for skin cancer, so I paid attention to the lump I found."

What You Need To Know About™ Melanoma : Information about detection, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Pathologist : Sometimes it is helpful for more than one pathologist to look at the tissue to determine whether melanoma is present

Biopsy A biopsy is the only way to make a definite diagnosis. In this procedure, the doctor tries to remove all of the suspicious-looking growth. If the growth is too large to be removed entirely, the doctor removes a sample of the tissue.

Newly Diagnosed: The Lymph System, latch key to Metastasis within the body!

Lymph  Node Introduction, Diagnosis, and Evaluation : Regional lymph node metastases (metastasis means spread to another area of the body) are the most common sites of metastatic melanoma. The physician managing melanoma must be very careful in making the diagnosis and instituting prompt treatment because 25 - 50% of the patients can be cured with surgical excision alone. Moreover, effective treatment can be provided which may prolong the patient's life even in those where not "curable". Source: Melanoma Patients Net.

You need to know what SNB means. "(sentinel node biopsy)--surgeons can determine the disease status of an entire lymph node  basin by identifying, removing, and examining a single special lymph node called the sentinel node."    Stephanie P. Deming,  Melanoma Information Page

VAT: The Lymphatic System : This picture shows the regions of the lymph node where the blood stream (arteries and veins) enter a typical lymph node.

The Lymphatic System : Provides Structured Overview Of A System Of Concern For Oncologists

Sentinel Lymph Node mapping in Melanoma and Breast Cancer    Like many cancers, malignant melanoma and invasive breast cancer often spread from their original site through the lymph channels to regional lymph nodes. With melanoma, removal of these lymph nodes can prolong life and in some cases cure the disease; in breast cancer removal of these lymph nodes provides prognostic information regarding cure and can help decide whether  there is a need for chemotherapy.

The Staging Procedure Please review the Staging Procedure. A number of decisions will be made based on the outcome of this process.

Melanoma Patients' Information Page   On Staging!

ACS: How Is Melanoma Skin Cancer Staged? : "Staging is a process of finding out how widespread a cancer is. This includes describing its size as well as if it has spread to any other organs. A staging system is a standard way of summarizing how far a cancer has spread. The system used most often to stage melanoma is the TNM system. In this system, each cancer is given a T category, an N category, and an M category." Source: American Cancer Society

Suspicious Mole | Stage I   |  Stage II   | Stage III |  Stage IV : The goal of this guide is to provide the reader with information on moles -the technical term is nevus (singular) or nevi (plural), which due to their large concentration of pigmentation cells (melanocytes) are often the place where melanoma lesions first begin. While we hope you find the links in this guide informative, they cannot substitute for an examination by a qualified dermatologists. Pre-cancerous nevi are notoriously difficult to detect, even for a trained professional. When it doubt, have a dermatologist check it out.

Melanoma - What does "staging" mean? (Breslow's & Clark's Level) : "Once someone is diagnosed with melanoma, it is important to find out how deep into the layers of the skin the melanoma has grown and if it has spread to areas close to where it started such as the lymph nodes, or to more distant areas such as the liver, lungs or brain. To find this out, the physician will order a variety of blood tests, X-rays, scans and other special tests. ASK for specific results of these tests and record with your records. This process is called  "staging." Treatment is based on what stage the melanoma is in at the time of diagnosis." Source: Advocate Health Care .

Common Abbreviations :   Here's a list of common abbreviations related to melanoma.

Blood & Urine Tests

Blood test reveals whether deadly skin cancer has spread : An experimental new cancer test for people undergoing surgery for melanoma can apparently reveal whether deadly traces of the tumor have already spread to other parts of the body.

Urotherapy for patients with cancer : Abstract Cancer cells release various antigens, some of which appear in the urine.

Scans

You should know this:  Patients and doctors unaware of CatScan radiation dose.

Combined PET/CT Scanner Improves Treatment : Clinicians at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) are now able to view cancer in a more precise way, with the installation of two cutting-edge combined PET/CT scanners.

P E T Whole Body Atlas The  P E T  Whole Body Atlas is designed to be a resource and educational tool to teach its users how to read and interpret various  types of whole body PET studies. In order to do this over 100 actual patient cases have been collected and the user is able to view the PET scans along with the scan report, the admissions reports ((when available), and any supporting MRI or CT  images. Crump Institute for Biological Imaging, UCLA.)

P E T Brain Atlas : Total Brain Tumor Cases - 22  Crump Institute for Biological Imaging, UCLA.

Insurance Questions : WILL MY INSURANCE COVER MY PET SCAN?

ACS: Consumers Guide to Cancer Drugs Inside this guide you will find information for the more than 200 medicines

Treatment Decision Tools : Get a detailed profile of a specific type of cancer to make informed choices about treatment used to treat cancer or the symptoms of cancer.

Treatments for Melanoma : What is Melanoma? The most dangerous form of skin cancer, melanoma begins in a type of skin cell called a melanocyte. Melanocytes produce the skin pigment known as melanin, which is responsible for our own natural skin color.

Melanocytes, tumor, skin cancer, cancer: Current Therapies  : We have prepared this document in an effort to provide useful information to physicians caring for patients with melanoma.

Surgical Adjuvant Treatment of Melanoma   We have prepared this document in an effort to provide useful information to physicians caring for patients with melanoma. The suggestions contained herein are intended to be helpful in providing some guidance regarding patient care; the individual situation will be different for each patient and the suggestions should be modified accordingly.

Melanoma: Nutritional Information : Eating well during your treatment means getting enough calories and protein to help prevent weight loss and regain strength. It also helps people feel better and have more energy.

Melanoma: Information on Exercise and Energy Levels : One side effect from your melanoma therapy may be fatigue. The best way to manage this side effect is to conserve your energy. You may also be able to boost your energy levels with moderate exercise.

The Lymphatic System & Treatment

The Lymphatic System : Provides Structured Overview Of A System Of Concern For Oncologists

Why Operate On lymph nodes? : Because melanoma appears to spread from the skin, then to the lymph nodes, and then to the internal organs. Melanoma Patient's Network

Radioguided Sentinel Lymph Node Surgery   A new procedure has been developed during the mid to late 1990's to determine if there is cancer in regional lymph nodes more accurately.

Who Needs Node Surgery? :   Who Needs Lymph Node Surgery? Melanoma Patient's Network

Choosing Lymph Nodes for Melanoma Surgery : Melanomas on the body or head (not the arms or legs) can spread to more than one lymph node area. Melanoma Patient's Network

Results Of Lymph Node Surgery : Does it help, and who does it help? Melanoma Patient's Network

Quillin: Treatments Currently Used for Cancer : n order to know where we are going in cancer treatment, it is important to know where we have been and how we got where we are.

The Rational Therapeutics Approach. Cancer Laboratories : Rational Therapeutics pioneers intelligent cancer therapies that are specifically tailored for each individual  patient. We are the leader in personal cancer strategies. With no financial ties to outside healthcare organizations, our recommendations are made without financial or scientific prejudice.

What Are Interferons? Interferon is a natural substance produced by the body in response to infection and disease. Manufactured forms of interferon have been shown to help the body's immune system fight disease more effectively.

Types of Interferons Interferons are a group of naturally occurring proteins that were first discovered as a result of their ability to prevent viral replication. Additional research has determined that interferons have antitumor effects and are useful in fighting some types of cancer cells.

    Warning: Alpha interferons, including INTRON® A, cause or aggravate  fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. Patients should be monitored closely with periodic clinical and laboratory evaluations. Patients with persistently severe or worsening signs or symptoms of these conditions should be withdrawn from therapy. In many but not all cases these disorders resolve after stopping INTRON A therapy.

How Do Interferons Work in Melanoma? INTRON® A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) for Injection is an adjuvant treatment to surgery that has been shown to significantly prolong life in appropriate patients after removal of the melanoma tumor.

ACS: Interleukin-2 Interleukin-2 is a protein cytokine that belongs to a general class of man-made substances called biologic response modifiers. This drug is made by recombinant DNA techniques. It is used to treat several types of cancer including advanced renal cell cancer and malignant melanoma.

High-dose Allovectin-7 Phase II Trial   High-Dose Allovectin-7 in Patients with Advanced Metastatic Melanoma.

Aldesleukin, Injection : This medicine is given by injection to treat metastatic renal cell cancer in adults. It may be used for other conditions determined by your doctor, including metastatic melanoma (spreading skin cancer).

Uveal melanoma patients : Researchers are examining whether CancerVax, a vaccine that has shown positive results and increased survival in cutaneous (skin) melanoma patients, will stop the spread of eye melanoma through the blood after it is detected and treated in the eye.

Biochemotherapy : For patients with stage IV melanoma, treatment with the sequential biochemotherapy regimen at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center means three to four months of intense therapy. But the severe side effects sometimes caused by the treatment can be well worth it when biochemotherapy, one of the most promising treatments for advanced melanoma, is effective.

Alternative Medicine : Homeopathy and other popular therapies demonstrate ancient and universal principles of magical thinking, which some recent research suggests are fundamental to human cognition, even rooted in neurobiology.

Recurrent Melanoma : "Recurrent melanoma is resistant to most standard systemic therapy, and all newly diagnosed patients should be considered candidates for clinical trials. Deciding on further treatment depends on many factors, including prior treatment and site of recurrence, as well as individual patient considerations. Surgery is the most efficacious therapy for isolated recurrence in sites where it can be accomplished (including lymph node, skin, brain, lung, liver, and gastrointestinal sites). " Source: University of Bonn, Medical Center.
Cancer control Journal: Melanoma Metastasis : Cancer metastasis requires a series of sequential steps, each of which is rate limiting.

    { Recurrent Melanoma Of The  Liver }

Ocular Melanoma Metastatic to the Liver   If you have recently been diagnosed with ocular/uveal melanoma and are considering enucleation, please go to this link. "This page is dedicated to my beloved father, John Brockman, who died June 29, 2000. Had we known the information on this page, he might be alive today. Instead, we were advised by our oncologists that nothing could be done. This was the beginning of our search, within the medical community, for a cutting-edge treatment for this rare form of metastatic melanoma. Very few doctors are aware of the extraordinarily aggressive nature of this tumor, and even fewer are aware of recent developments which can at least significantly prolong life, if not cure the cancer."

    { Recurrent Melanoma To The  Lungs }

Lung Metastasis Clinical Resources  : Melanoma Prevention and Screening Resources

What You Need To Know About Lung Cancer : Information about detection, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer.

Cancer Prevention and Inhibition of Tumor Metastasis by Spirulina Components The effect of Spirulina components, Calcium spirulan (Ca-SP) and Zeaxanthin, on tumor metastasis and carcinogenesis was studied in mice.

   { Recurrent Melanoma To The Brain }

    What is a Brain Metastasis ?

    Definition "The brain metastasis is a brain tumor that starts somewhere else in the body but travels to the brain by the bloodstream and starts growing. The most common brain metastases are from tumors of the lung, breast, skin (melanoma) and colon. There are several "prognostic" (foretelling) features of brain metastases including age, "performance status" of the patient (able to care for one's self), control of the primary (tumor outside of the brain) and whether there is spread of the primary tumor to organs outside the brain." Source: Johns Hopkins.

What Is A Brain Tumor?   A brain tumor is a space-occupying mass or volume that arises within the brain. Each year more than 17,000 people in the United States have a brain tumor. The American Cancer Society estimates that 17,200 malignant brain tumors or spinal cord tumors (9,800 in men and 7,400 in women) will be diagnosed during 2001 in the United States.

1.  Melanoma Brain Metastasis   Melanoma frequently metastasizes to the brain. Melanoma brain metastases respond well to the large fractional doses of radiation (radiosurgery). Radiosurgery offers control of the melanoma brain metastasis with low rates complications. This radiosurgery for melanoma brain metastasis /  metastases can be performed on an out- patient basis with high rates of success and low morbidity.

2.  Melanoma Brain Metastasis   Johns Hopkins Melanoma radiosurgery offers noninvasive treatment of brain metastases secondary to Melanoma. The melanoma brain metastasis treatments are performed on an outpatient basis, require no drugs, anesthesia or recovery. The results of melanoma brain metastasis radiosurgery treatments are very promising with high intracranial control rates.

Metastatic Tumors to the Brain and Spine   If you have a metastatic central nervous system tumor but your primary cancer is not yet known, we hope this booklet will help you understand the purpose of the various tests your doctors are requesting.

Temozolomide Holds Promise For Advanced    A recently approved oral treatment for brain cancer has proven to be effective against the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to a study published in the January edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study found that temozolomide is "at least" as effective as DTIC, a current standard treatment for patients with advanced metastatic melanoma, and that patients receiving temozolomide suffered less from fatigue and insomnia

    { Recurrent Melanoma and Tumors to the  Gastrointestinal tract. }

TUMORS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT    Slides of various tumors found in the gastrointestinal tract.

Gastrointestinal Listing of the various areas that make up this tract.

Melanoma Of The Eye

MEDLINEplus: Eye Cancer What is Eye Cancer?

Intraocular Melanoma Intraocular melanoma, a rare cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the part of the eye called the uvea. The uvea contains cells called melanocytes, which contain color. When these cells become cancerous, the cancer is called a melanoma.

Melanoma of the Eye : This cross section of the eye shows the optic nerve protruding at the left.

About Choroidal Melanoma   Malignant melanoma, the most common primary intraocular malignancy, is a neoplasm of the uveal tract. This is the pigmented layer of the eye that includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid.

Uveal Melanoma  : Malignant melanoma of the uveal tract is a rare malignancy but a significant cause of mortality and visual loss.  Approximately 50% of patients diagnosed with melanoma of the choroid or ciliary body will die of the disease within 15 years of enucleation.

Eye Cancer Dictionary   Alternative Treatment Treatment other than the standard or most common treatment of a condition.

Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study  : Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults. Initially appearing as a small freckle beneath the retina, choroidal melanoma can grow in height and diameter,
and may eventually spread to other organs of the body, causing death.

Ocular Melanoma Metastatic to the Liver   If you have recently been diagnosed with ocular/uveal melanoma and are considering enucleation, please go to this link.

Melanoma of the  Esophagus:

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Esophagus  : It was with great interest that we read the article of Al-Karawi et al.1 on Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Esophagus. Only recently we have had a similar case in our hospital and would like to add it to the world literature as the 141st case.

Protecting the Privacy of Patients' Health Information, : Protecting The Privacy of Patient's Health Information.

Internet Health Directory : An extensive reliable resource supported by the top health web links

Body Mapper : Monitor your skin using structured overviews.

Forward, Guide for Cancer Supporters : Jimmie C. Holland, M.D., Director, Psychiatric Oncology, Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center When cancer is diagnosed, it is not only the person diagnosed who experiences concerns about the future - but also the relatives and friends.

Recommended readings : by melanoma patients and their caregivers.

List Serv (Highly Recommended)
    ListServs are collaborative, opt-in email lists. A copy of each message sent to the list is automatically sent to each member of the list.
MEL-L is a support group for patients, caregivers, doctors and researchers of the disease of melanoma. Here patients and caregivers can discuss their experiences with treatments, doctors, family, insurance and job related issues...anything related to the illness they are dealing with knowing that the audience includes others who know what we are going through.
To subscribe, send an email message to: listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
In the body of the message put: subscribe mel-l first name last name

Mikes Page has over 300 links to information about all aspects of Melanoma.

Support Groups : find one to suit your needs.

Anderson Network : - call 1-800-345-6324 to speak with another melanoma patient:

R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation Inc.

National Cancer Survivors Day Information Guide

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

PatNet : can help you connect with patients in similar circumstances.

Shared Experience Cancer Support Knowledge base : An open, freely searchable, collection of first-hand accounts by cancer patients and their caregivers.

Melanoma: Lifestyle and Side Effect Management : Lifestyle and Side Effect Management provides information on dealing with Melanoma its treatment, including nutrition, exercise and energy levels.

Health Management for Older Adults III : Recognizing the Signs: Cancer Screening in the Elderly How to Use These Slides: This presentation has been enhanced using RealAudio. To hear the audio track you will need to install the RealPlayer available free.

Source : Power To The Patient , Isadore Rosenfeld. MD, Professor Clinical Medicine, New York-Cornell Medical Center.

  Advance Health Care Directives:   An informational source for those with questions about final decisions.

  MyHealthDirective.com: Instructions and registry for your health directive decisions.

Entrez-PubMed : Medical research into melanoma an organized by NCBI (National Library of Medicine). Type in melanoma into the search engine on this link. Access to 2435 topics dealing with research and Melanoma.

     Look here for research that patients can participate in:

Clinical Trials.gov - Linking Patients to Medical Research : The U.S. National Institutes of Health, through its National Library of Medicine, has developed Clinical Trials.gov to provide patients, family members and members of the public current information about clinical research studies.

     Look here to develop a strategy for managing your potential involvement in clinical trials:

Melanoma from Veritas Medicine : Talking with your health care provider about clinical trials.

      Look here to analyze the various risks involved in clinical trials: .

House Call: Getting the Facts About Clinical Trials : Deciding whether to participate in a clinical trials can be one of the most important choices a patient with cancer makes. Patients who take part in research studies have an opportunity not only to help themselves but also to help improve care for other patients with cancer. But because clinica. trials involve experimental treatments, some patients are distrustful of them, and misconceptions are common. Knowing the facts about clinical trials can help you decide if participating in a trial is right for you.

Biomedical Research At Crossroads : "The effort to turn Kansas City into a "Biomed Valley" is off to a slow start -- so slow, in fact, that it is stifling the city's  new jewel, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research." KC Star On Line.

Metastatic Melanoma Treatment Study : The National Cancer Institute is looking for men and women whose skin cancer has spread to participate in a new clinical research study to treat melanoma. 1-888-NCI-1937

Mayo Clinic - Melanoma The Clinical Trials component of the MSG activities represents a coordinated effort of a large number of individuals concentrated on the study of novel therapies for patients with malignant melanoma. The trials are designed in such a fashion to ensure patient safety and to allow appropriate evaluation of the new treatments. Each study is reviewed and approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board. The overall mission of the Clinical Trials program is development of scientifically- based, safe, specific, non-toxic and effective therapies for malignant melanoma. For more information regarding the Clinical Trials program please link to our clinical trials page.

Melanoma Research Foundation Home Page : The Melanoma Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for melanoma and support the melanoma patient community

MEDLINEplus Health Information from the National Library of Medicine : A service of the Natinal Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

NIH Health Information : Research supported by the National Institutes of Health

AACC - Educational Link Directory : The search engines and educational links listed below are recommended by the AACC Internet Educational Resource Group (IERG) to help you locate online resources to serve your informational and educational needs in clinical chemistry and laboratory-related topics. The IERG members have identified these search engines and web sites as valuable resources they use on an ongoing basis.

U.S. FDA - CDER Home Page : Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

Melanomas of Skin : Incidence, mortality, and survival data from the NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

Melanoma Research Projects : Information from the Cancer Research Portfolio, a comprehensive database of NCI-supported research.

Disclaimer:  This site was designed as a result of personal experience and is offered for educational purposes only. It is not engaged in rendering medical advice. The information offered here should not be used for diagnosis or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.