RSS
Home
John McCain: one foot in the grave?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
The intense scrutiny of John McCain's vice presidential choice is heightened by McCain's age and his cancer history. The media hordes assume that anyone over age 70 is likely to keel over without warning, at any time. His past melanoma diagnosis is potentially more concerning. Most people associate the term "melanoma" with certain death. But according to the American Academy of Dermatology: "When detected and properly treated in its early stages, melanoma has a cure rate of about 95%". If detected in the early stages, before it spreads to the lymph nodes, melanoma has a 99% five year survival rate.
- While melanoma is the least common skin cancer, it causes 75% of skin cancer deaths.
- It is more common in fair-skinned blonds and redheads.
- Risk increases with UV exposure, from sun or tanning beds
- Melanoma can run in families, and about 5-10% of patients have a family history
- In 2008, 116,500 new cases are predicted in the US, 54,000 of them noninvasive.
- The rate for white men is 28.5/100,000; for black men it is 1.1/100,000.
- The incidence in Colorado is almost 30% higher than the US average.
When is a mole melanoma? Melanoma is typically associated with asymmetric shaped moles with uneven or ragged borders and uneven color, with 2 or more tones. Most have a black or blue area. Moles that change shape or grow in size are also suspicious. Melanoma moles are usually larger than 1/4 inch in diameter (6 mm).
What if you have a suspicious mole? Get checked by a dermatologist. The doctor may remove the mole and surrounding tissue for analysis. If it is melanoma, you may have a lymph node biopsy to assess whether the cancer has spread. More aggressive treatments, including radiation, immunotherapy or chemotherapy, may be indicated if the melanoma has spread.
What's it like to have melanoma? An acquaintance, early-40's and typical active outdoorsy Colorado guy, says this: "Melanoma is very scary. If it does metastasize, you have a good chance of dying, so you need to treat it aggressively. I researched my options and discussed them with the surgeon and oncologist. I was borderline for needing a lymph node biopsy, but I did it to stay on the aggressive side of treatment. While I don't worry or think about it on a daily basis, it does change your thoughts about your own health and makes you more aware."
So what about John McCain? He was first diagnosed in 1993, and has had 4 melanoma lesions removed since then. Two were superficial and posed no further risk. The most recent one, removed in 2000, had penetrated to the second layer of skin. He had lymph nodes removed as a precaution, which were negative for cancer. Since then he has been cancer-free, an 8 year period. His risk for recurrence is very low, but not zero. My friend's view of the media's death predictions for McCain: "Pretty silly, mostly fueled by lack of knowledge on the realities of Melanoma." Eight years from now, whether or not he's elected, McCain could still be living large, like his 96-year old mother.
Related Articles:
Comments
.jpg)
