More and more parents diagnosed with Melanoma are opting for genetic testing of their children. Over a two-year study 86.9% of parents said, “yes”, they would want genetic testing for their children. You can read more about it here. What I really want to know is what you think. Take the poll and see how others feel about the genetic testing of minors.
News flash! There is this awesome free online application for patients with malignant melanoma. It’s called Targeted Therapy Finder–Melanoma. This application is specific to patients that have been diagnosed with late-stage melanoma.
Collabrx of Palo Alto has developed this first of its kind application (app) under the leadership of noted internet entrepreneur and melanoma survivor Marty Tenenbaum.
The app is based upon the science of the original Melanoma Molecular Disease Model (MMDM) in Cancer Commons built by David Fisher and Keith Flaherty of Harvard Medical School and Smruti Vidwans and colleagues on our staff.
How it works:
The science of molecular genomics is leading to our ability to sub-classify many cancers, and those new subtypes have provided opportunities to develop and use potential targeted therapies. No field of cancer has progressed faster than melanoma in elucidating this new approach. Based upon genomic molecular testing, many melanomas are found to have mutated genes that affect metabolic pathways. There are promising therapies that may target specific melanomas once mutations are identified.
Most patients and many physicians are not yet aware of these options. Voila’! Http://therapy.collabrx.com
After reading the article and being completely confused, I decided to try it out for myself. Once at the homepage I answered four questions, clicked Search and was given the best possible therapies for the type of melanoma one would be diagnosed with. I was surprised by the detail. First, I selected early stage melanoma and it referred me to other website resources since the Targeted Therapy Finder is for patients with late-stage melanoma. Then I selected late-stage melanoma and it provided the summary of the mutation, suggested inhibitors to try, a list of the clinical trials, and suggested reading.
The Targeted Therapy Finder looks like a great resource for patients and doctors to use. You can find out for yourself and read more about it at The Health Care Blog.
Image via Wikipedia
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Real Houswives, but those women can’t compare to the housewives of the NHRA Drag Racing drivers. Twelve housewives and one husband have joined together to make a calendar in order to raise money for Melanoma research. The calendar was created byAndrea Pedregon, wife of the two-time Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon. She wanted to memorialize her child hood best friend, Angi Austin, who lost her two-year battle with Melanoma at age 42. Through the Andrea Pedregon Charity Foundation she has been raising a fund to fight Melanoma. These calendars will be available until January 15, 2011 or until sold out. Visit www.pedregonracing.com to learn more!
Here’s the line up…
The new face of the Marc Jacobs campaign to fight against skin cancer is Victoria Secret model, Marisa Miller. The Marc Jacobs campaign is called “Protect the Skin You’re In” and the bare-it-all photo of Marisa will be printed on yellow t-shirts with the proceeds benefiting the NYC Cancer Institute.
Here is what she had to say (from Marisa Miller: Blog)…”I thought wearing my chucks was better than heels, right? The skate deck I’m holding is a really cool vintage deck from Santa Cruz Skate Boards. It was made over to promote the charity- but maybe one day I can post the original with the SC skate logos.”;)
