Dr Sancy Leachman: Melanoma Metastasizes Quickly, Needs to Be Caught Early

This content was produced independently by The American Journal of Managed Care^® and is not endorsed by the American Academy of Dermatology.

EP: 1.Ruxolitinib Cream Improves AD Across Body Regions, Shows Efficacy, Safety in Black Patients

EP: 2.Upcoming Generics Provide New Considerations and Opportunities for Savings

EP: 3.Managed Care Has a Key Role in Biosimilar Adoption, Says Cardinal's Oskouei

EP: 4.Dr John Harris: There Are a Lot of Reasons to Talk About Vitiligo at This Year’s AAD Meeting

EP: 5.Dermatologists’ Focus to Delve Below the Skin at Annual Conference

EP: 6.Experts Herald “Year of the JAK Inhibitor” in Dermatology

EP: 7.Dr Monica Li Highlights Advances in Microneedling

EP: 8.Dr Eva Parker: Climate Change Has Been Impacting Skin Diseases for Years

EP: 9.Dermatology Data Can Direct Policy Priorities, but Gaps Reflect Inequities of Care

EP: 10.Dr John Harris Outlines the Outcomes of Stopping Treatment With Ruxolitinib Cream for Vitiligo

EP: 11.Late-Breaking Abstracts Demonstrate Value of Persistence With Ruxolitinib Cream for Vitiligo

EP: 12.Examining Dermatological Care for Transgender Patients

EP: 13.How Our Understanding of Inflammatory Skin Disease Has Evolved From the 4 Humors to Targeted Therapies

EP: 14.Dr Haley Naik Discusses Using Biologics and the Drug Pipeline for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

EP: 15.Drs Dellavalle and Rodriguez Discuss Disparities in Prescription Patterns for Atopic Dermatitis

EP: 16.Posters Show Success of Ruxolitinib Cream in Alleviating Facial Vitiligo Symptoms, Reducing Noticeability

EP: 17.Investigators Highlight Disparities Evident in Skin Disease Care, Data Collection

EP: 18.Studies Presented at AAD Examine Safety and Satisfaction of Tildrakizumab for Psoriasis

EP: 19.Patients With AD Have More Options With Biologics, JAK Inhibitors, Says Dr Emma Guttman-Yassky

EP: 20.Dermatologists Looking to the Future Will Need to Be Their Own Advocates, Panel Says

EP: 21.Teledermatology Can Increase Access for Patients With High-Risk Melanoma: Erik Jaklitsch

Now Viewing

EP: 22.Dr Sancy Leachman: Melanoma Metastasizes Quickly, Needs to Be Caught Early

EP: 23.Panel Discusses Treating Acne, Psoriasis in Dermatology Patients

EP: 24.New and Upcoming Treatment for Vitiligo, Atopic Dermatitis

EP: 25.Long-Term Safety of Dupilumab in Adults With Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis

EP: 26.Evaluating Label Warnings, Switching Rates in Patients With Psoriasis Initiating New Treatment

EP: 27.ICYMI: Highlights From RAD 2023

EP: 28.AAD 2024 to Feature Topics Including JAK Inhibitors, Biologics

EP: 29.Dr Amy Paller Previews the 2024 AAD Annual Conference

EP: 30.Ruxolitinib Reduces Extent, Severity of AD and Need for Other Treatments

EP: 31.Dr Raj Chovatiya Outlines Who Is a Good Candidate for Oral JAK Inhibitors

EP: 32.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: Challenges and Treatment Strategies

EP: 33.Dr Robert Sidbury: Understanding What Makes a Dermatology Practice Successful

EP: 34.Dr Monica Li Discusses Tailoring Microneedling Treatments to Meet Each Patient's Need

EP: 35.Skin Tone Bias Persists in Google Searches for Vitiligo

EP: 36.Management of HS Requires Both Coordination, Communication Between Patients and Providers

EP: 37.Dr Jonathan Silverberg Discusses Findings on the Safety, Efficacy of Nemolizumab at 48 Weeks

EP: 38.Biologic, Topical Therapies Both Effective in Treating AD in Skin of Color

EP: 39.Late-Breaking Abstracts Highlight Promising Therapies in AD, Hidradenitis Suppurativa

EP: 40.Dr Jeff Stark: Pain Reduction With Bimekizumab-bkzx in Patients With HS

EP: 41.Dr Martin Dahl Discusses the Pathophysiology of AD and Benefits of ANB032

EP: 42.New Study Links Social Factors to Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity

EP: 43.Dr Laura Ferris Discusses Safety, Efficacy of JNJ-2113 in Patients With Plaque Psoriasis

EP: 44.Dr Shawn Kwatra Shares Efficacy, Safety Data of Nemolizumab in Patients With PN

EP: 45.Brodalumab Is Effective, Safe in Patients With Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

EP: 46.Patients With Vitiligo Suffer Heightened Stigma, Mental Health Risks

EP: 47.Racial Variations in Cardiovascular Outcomes Found in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Study

EP: 48.Autoimmune Comorbidities Prevalent in Patients With Vitiligo

EP: 49.Skin Cancer Incidence Highest Among Rural, SOC Individuals

EP: 50.Dupilumab Considered Safe, Effective Treatment for Adolescent, Adult Patients With AD

EP: 51.Gaps in Skincare Knowledge, Sun Protection Practice Exist Among Patients With Lupus

EP: 52.Dr Raj Chovatiya Provides Evidence Supporting Oral JAK Inhibitor Use to Treat AD

EP: 53.Undertreatment, Biologic Access Gaps Identified in Psoriasis Treatment

EP: 54.Dr Raj Chovatiya Explains Oral JAK Inhibitor Monitoring Protocols for AD Treatment

EP: 55.Dr Monica Li Lists Microneedling Considerations, Precautions

EP: 56.Dr Jonathan Silverberg Describes AD Diagnosis, Treatment in Children vs Adults

EP: 57.Dr Lawrence Eichenfield Discusses Positive Results of Roflumilast Cream 0.05% in Pediatric Patients With AD

EP: 58.Dr Robert Sidbury on Implementing Value-Based Care Initiatives in a Pediatric Dermatology Practice

EP: 59.Dr Monica Li Explains Efficacy, Safety Differences Between Different Microneedling Techniques

EP: 60.Dr Lawrence Eichenfield Hopeful for New Pediatric AD Treatment Option

EP: 61.Dr Martina Porter Shares Findings on Ruxolitinib Cream in Patients With HS

While melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers, making early detection crucial for outcomes, because it is visible on the surface, there are opportunities to catch it early, said Sancy Leachman, MD, PhD, professor and chair in the Department of Dermatology and director of the Melanoma Research Program at the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health and Science University.

Leachman presented on an early detection program in Oregon, as well as germline genetic testing for patients at risk of developing melanoma, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Transcript

Melanoma is a particularly aggressive cancer that spreads fast. Can you explain the importance of early detection?

There are a couple of features about melanoma that make it really sort of the poster child of early detection, if you want to call it that. First of all, it's on the skin surface—the vast, vast majority of melanomas you can see with your own eyes, you can tell that it's there. And so, if you're paying attention, it's an opportunity for early detection. It's not like a cancer that's on the inside where you can't really see it, and you would never know it's there. With melanoma, if you're paying attention, you got a chance to catch it.

The question is then, are you going to catch it early enough? And the problem with melanoma, is it's probably one of the most aggressive cancers in man, if you think about how soon something starts to metastasize to the rest of your body. Melanoma will start to metastasize when it's only a millimeter thick. In comparison, if you look at the data, for example, and compare between melanoma and breast cancer survival rates: the 5-year survival rates for melanoma at 1 millimeter, are about the same as the survival rates for breast cancer at 2 centimeters.

You really do need to catch it early, but because it's on the surface of the skin, you can see it—you can usually see it—to be able to do that if you're paying attention. So, there’s an opportunity for education.