Malignant melanoma: Prevention, early detection, and treatment in the 21stCentury

Malignant melanoma continues to present a significant public health problem as its incidence is rising faster than that of any other cancer in the US. At current rates, 1 in 74 Americans will develop melanoma during his or he r lifetime. Management of melanoma is a complex issue requiring a multidisciplinary app roach. The most effective method of protection against the development of m elanoma is minimization of ultraviolet exposure from sunlight. Early detect ion and treatment are critical and result in improved patient survival rate s. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment but many new promisi ng therapies are being investigated. It is hoped that increased public and professional awareness and education in all areas relating to the prevention, detection, and treatment of malign ant melanoma will contribute to decreasing trends in the incidence and mort ality from this cancer in the future.