Uncommon, yet extremely fatal: What you need to know this Melanoma Awareness Month

MANILA, Philippines — Beach fever heats up this summer season. But before heading out to spend the whole day by the sea, have you applied your sunscreen already?

Sun exposure is a leading cause of skin cancer called melanoma—the most dangerous type of skin cancer affecting the cells responsible for the color of our eyes, hair, and skin.

One study found that most areas affected by melanoma in Asian patients are not exposed to the sun.  It also revealed that poor skin awareness and knowledge contributed to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

As communities around the world observe Melanoma Awareness Month, we look at some of the things that Filipinos should know about this rare, yet deadly, disease.

1. A suspicious mole can be an early sign of melanoma

Oncologist Richard Pazdur said a mole that changes in size, shape, color, or feel is a warning sign of possible melanoma. If you see a suspicious spot on your body, you can follow the ABCDE screening principle for a quick assessment. ABCDE is an acronym that stands for asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolution. If the mole has two or more shades, asymmetrical, uneven, and larger than six millimeters (6mm), you should see a doctor right away.

2. About half of Filipinos diagnosed with melanoma die soon

According to the World Health Organization’s GLOBOCAN 2012 report, around 300 Filipinos are diagnosed with melanoma every year, with almost half eventually dying because of the disease.  Though this type of cancer is most common in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, Asians and Filipinos are also at risk.

Melanoma is easily diagnosed among sun-drenched Australians and New Zealanders because the disease often occurs on skin exposed to UV rays. This is not the case among Asian melanoma patients. Among Asians, the more common type of melanoma is acral lentiginous melanoma, which affects the palms and soles—parts that get very little sun exposure.  This makes early diagnosis more challenging among Asians.

3. Jimmy Carter’s bout with cancer started with melanoma

Though melanoma occurs on the skin, it can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body in its advanced stages. Such was the case with former US President Jimmy Carter, who was diagnosed with melanoma in 2015 that spread first to the liver then the brain.

When four spots of cancer appeared in his brain in August 2015 following the removal of a tumor in his liver, Carter underwent a form of treatment called immunotherapy. By December, he was cancer-free, though treatment was continuous.  Just this March, the former statesman announced that he already stopped with cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy taps the body’s natural capacity to ward off cancer. Pembrolizumab, the immunotherapy drug taken by Jimmy Carter, is also called an “immune checkpoint inhibitor,” which prevents malignant tumors from deactivating the immune system’s ability to identify and destroy cancer cells.

4. Pembrolizumab is now available in the Philippines

With the recent launch of Pembrolizumab in the Philippines, the sense of hope is stronger this Melanoma Awareness Month. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration also approved Pembrolizumab for late stage lung cancer treatment. Lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the Philippines, according to the GLOBOCAN 2012 report.
In a symposium held by Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (MSD) Philippines, Dr. Gerry Cornelio, Head of the Cancer Institute of Saint Luke’s Medical Center Global City said, “Pembrolizumab has the potential to become an integral part of cancer treatment. It has and will be tested across a broad spectrum of cancers.”

At the symposium, Cornelio highlighted the potential of Pembrolizumab in the treatment of other cancers including head and neck cancers, squamous cell carcinomas, urothelial cancer, gastric cancer, triple negative breast cancer, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The availability of this breakthrough treatment in the Philippines sends a positive message beyond this month’s cancer observance. By giving Filipino melanoma and even lung cancer patients a higher chance for survival, immunotherapy truly offers the hope of a second life.