Melanoma cases are rising in the U.S., so prevention and early detection are becoming increasingly important keys to reducing deaths from the most lethal form of skin cancer. “We project an increase in melanoma cases 20 to 30 percent every year,” says Merve Hasanov, MD, a skin cancer and melanoma expert at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). That number is alarming and partly caused by increased sun exposure, but the rise in diagnoses is also due to successful efforts to inform the public about the danger of melanoma, and the importance of screening. “We have better screening, and people are more aware of melanoma and skin cancers overall, so they’re seeking exams,” Hasanov says. Hasanov suggests yearly dermatologic exams, and also recommends that people regularly check their own skin to look for any changes that could indicate skin cancers, including melanoma. Skin cancer self-exams: know your ABCDEs When moles or other skin marks are discovered, Hasanov suggests that patients concentrate on the ABCDEs: Asymmetry: “When you look at a mole, put a line in the middle, and see if one half is different than the other.” Borders: “See if the borders of the mole are irregular, not just round or oval, but instead, a bit ragged.” Color: Check to see if there’s a color change, and if it’s a little lighter in one area and a little darker in another.” Diameter: “If a mole is more than six millimeters — like a pencil eraser — it’s concerning.” Evolution: “If a mole is changing, maybe growing, bleeding and/or itching, those are all alarm signs that require a dermatologist evaluation.” Click here to learn more about melanoma, including risks, symptoms and treatment options at The Ohio State University. Melanoma prevention saves lives Skin cancers are the most common form of cancer in the U.S., but of those conditions, melanoma is by far the leading cause of deaths. The good news is that, like other forms of skin cancer, people can significantly reduce their risk of melanoma by reducing their time in the sun and staying out of tanning beds. “Decrease your sun exposure by using sunblock and reapplying every 50 to 90 minutes and wearing hats or long sleeves,” Hasanov says. “This is important even during the winter or when it’s cloudy because rays are still coming from the sun.” Click here to learn more about skin cancer care and research at the OSUCCC – James. Immunotherapy could change melanoma treatment As one of the skin cancer experts conducting research at the OSUCCC – James, Hasanov is working to build the future of melanoma care. Among the potential breakthroughs are immunotherapy treatments that could save lives by harnessing patients’ immune systems to find and destroy melanoma cells. “Melanomas have a lot of molecular and genetic changes that can be recognized by the immune system,” she explains. “Cancer is smart and can shut down the immune system, but checkpoint inhibitors in immunotherapy drugs can take the brakes off the immune system so the T cells better recognize and kill cancer cells.” Immunotherapy is also showing promise as a preventative measure for patients who have already had melanoma. “We’re still in the clinical trial phase, but we’re showing that outcomes are much better in terms of recurrence if we do immunotherapies early on, when immune cells are trained for the cancer,” Hasanov says. Click here to learn about immunotherapy for cancer at the OSUCCC – James.