Melanoma Awareness & Education

Mollie’s Fund Launches Android Version of FREE App for Skin Cancer Awareness

Garden City, New York – The Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation, www.molliesfund.org has announced the launch of an Android OS version of their informational skin cancer app which was previously launched for iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad). The new Android version can be downloaded free from the Android Market.

Mollie’s Fund, with the assistance of MCS Advertising and Arc Design Studio, created this interactive guide to provide users with facts about the evolution of skin cancer and melanoma. The application illustrates a self-exam, exhibits mole changes and reinforces behaviors to protect against skin cancer. The program emphasizes the necessity of a professional dermatology examination and includes a monthly skin check log to keep track of monthly examinations.

Current estimates state over 130 million Android users will be able to receive this valuable health resource in addition to over 200 million iOS users.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. One person each hour dies from melanoma. Melanoma can be cured—if diagnosed and treated early. This initiative supports the mission of Mollie’s Fund of creating programs for education and prevention of skin cancer and melanoma.

For more information about the Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation, visit, www.molliesfund.org

October 9th, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill officially making it a law banning the use of commercial tanning beds for those under 18 years old. This will go into effect January 1, 2012. California is the FIRST state in the nation to ban minors from the lethally dangerous ultraviolet-emitting radiation from tanning beds.

Three new drugs can significantly increase survival rates in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Yervoy (ipilimumab) is a novel type of cancer drug that works by unleashing the body’s own immune system to fight a tumor.

Vermurafenib targets the V600E mutation in a gene called BRAF, which is involved in cell growth. One study showed this oral medication decreased the risk of death by 63%.

On August 17th, Zelboraf, won approval from the FDA for melanoma patients with tumors with a genetic mutation known as BRAF V600E. It was approved with a test that can determine if a patient’s cancer has the mutation. The mutation produces a version of a protein that is normally involved in regulating cell growth. The protein is mutated in about half of patients with advanced melanoma.

These three important advances in the treatment of melanoma could lead to a combination approach.

Anna C. Pavlick, DO gave a talk at the 2011 Annual Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation Golf Outing about the recent advancements of new life saving drugs (Yervoy-Ipilimumab and Zelbraf-Vemurafenib) that can significantly increase survival rates in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Brazil is the first country to ban tanning salons, as well as buying or selling tanning equipment. This law was a result of the World Health Organization classifying tanning beds as a Level 1 Carcinogen, the same as plutonium and cigarettes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics have all included tanning beds in their list of dangerous carcinogens. So far, 30 U.S. states have some restrictions.

On June 14, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced new requirements for sunscreen currently sold over the counter. For the first time since 1999, the FDA has proposed new rules which would include: standards for UVA testing and labeling: rules that would cap SPF numbers at 50 plus; and ban terms in advertising – “waterproof” and “sunblock”. Sunscreen packaging must also include a warning that sunscreen is a part of a comprehensive plan of sun protection that also includes limiting sun exposure, wearing protective clothing and reapplying sunscreen every two hours.