Chancellor Werner receives plea for better cancer info |
Melissa Underwood |
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When Stephen and Gail Fine lost their 26-year-old son Daniel in 1998 to melanoma, a type of skin cancer, they set out to inform others about the disease. In an e-mail message to Chancellor David Werner, the couple wrote, "Our son would likely be alive today if he had received this kind of information about a disease which is much more common and serious than most people realize." The Fines encourage everyone to visit the Internet site www.skincheck.org. The site focuses on early detection of melanoma through self-examination. It also tells the Fines' story. A 1996 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 74 percent of individuals in the 18- to 24-year-old age group had little or no knowledge of melanoma. Among the next highest age group, 25 to 29 years old, melanoma is the most prevalent cancer. The incidence is increasing 4 percent every year, faster than any other cancer. More than 47,000 new cases are predicted to be diagnosed in the next year nationwide and one out of every 75 people on college campuses will develop melanoma. Melanoma occurs despite physical condition, health, complexion and family history. Melanoma is easy to detect in early stages by self-examination. It can be removed virtually painlessly in a dermatologist's office. Left undiagnosed, the cancer can invade the internal organs, becoming the most malignant and incurable of all cancers. The information on the site is from the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Cancer Institute, as well as other reliable sources. There are also links to the AAD and NCI sites. The Fines would be happy to furnish professional references if requested. Requests for contributions, advertising or hidden agendas aren't found on the nonprofit, public service Web site. Questions or requests for more information can be sent to the Melanoma Education Foundation at stevefine@earthlink.net. | |