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| |  Doctors Caution People That Sun Exposure Can Be Deadly SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 4, 1996 -- Summer is right around the corner, but fun in the sun can be deadly. Each year, almost 40,000 Americans develop melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, primarily as a result of exposure to sunlight. May is National Melanoma Detection and Prevention Month and doctors at the John Wayne Cancer Institute are cautioning people that the sun's rays can be potentially deadly, especially to young children and teenagers. Donald L. Morton, M.D., medical director of the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI), and his staff see more melanoma patients than anyone else in the U.S. Morton says that taking preventative measures against melanoma is essential. "Despite all the progress we've made, and will continue to make in the treatment of melanoma, prevention is always easier than a cure. And that means doing anything possible to protect yourself from dangerous sun exposure. Just one sunburn can eventually cause melanoma," said Morton. Peggy Maddox, a long-time patient of Morton's, couldn't agree more. "Most people have no idea what type of effect suntanning now can have later in life," said Maddox. After being diagnosed in 1983 with melanoma and given only a few months to live, Maddox went to JWCI where she was treated with what was then a highly experimental vaccine program for melanoma. She has been in the vaccine program ever since, and though she is considered "cured," she must still return for vaccine shots every six months. Maddox added, "Everyone should use sunscreen everyday, even if it doesn't seem sunny outside. Make prevention a part of your daily life. I apply sunscreen in the morning when I brush my teeth, and I keep a small tube in my car in case I need a little extra coverage. I also wear gloves on both hands whenever I golf or bike. These are easy things to do." The John Wayne Cancer Institute has a few suggestions for protecting yourself: -- Stay out of direct sunlight from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the rays are strongest. -- Before outdoor activity or prolonged exposure, apply a sunblock effective against ultraviolet rays of both A and B types, with an SPF of at least 15. Make sure to reapply frequently, especially if bike riding or swimming. -- Those with light skin and light eyes are especially prone to sunburn. Cover up with widebrimmed bats and long pants and shirts. The John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, is a cancer center specializing in the treatment of patients with solid tumors, including malignant melanoma. Its team of surgical oncologists is responsible for the development of techniques such as blue-node mapping, and its large research center is responsible for the highly successful melanoma cell vaccine (MCV). As a leading academic research and treatment center, it is one of only 12 facilities in the United States approved by the Society of Surgical Oncology to offer advanced training in surgical oncology.
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