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Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Melanoma represents less than 5% of all skin cancers but is responsible for the large majority of skin cancer-related deaths.  In 2005 it is estimated nearly 60,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the United States and nearly 7800 people are expected to die form the disease.  Cure rates are very high for melanomas that have not  spread beyond the initial lesions but as the tumor spreads to other parts of the body (metastasis), mortality increases and 5-year survival is about 10% for patients with widely disseminated disease.  Treatment for melanoma depends on the site of the original lesion, the stage of the cancer (related to spread) and the patient’s general health and age.

Additional information about Melanoma can be found at the American Cancer Society website.  Additional information about clinical trials for the treatment of lung cancer can be found at National Cancer Institute.