"Our personal experiences with Melanoma drove us to assist building awareness of the many faces of this disease and help inform, educate and promote better health to the public through the racing community."   - Corey Agee

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Upcoming Events Ace Speedway August 27, 2010 7:00pm

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What Is Melanoma? also called, The Beast. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It begins in skin cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells that make melanin, which gives skin its color. Melanin also protects the deeper layers of the skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. When people spend time in the sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin and cause the skin to tan. This also happens when skin is exposed to other forms of ultraviolet light (such as in a tanning booth). If the skin receives too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become cancerous. This condition is called melanoma. How and where does melanoma appear? The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of a mole. But melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole. In men, melanoma most often shows up: on the upper body, between the shoulders and hips on the head and neck In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs. In dark-skinned people, melanoma often appears: under the fingernails or toenails on the palms of the hands on the soles of the feet Although these are the most common places on the body for melanomas to appear, they can appear anywhere on the skin. That's why it is important to always examine your skin to check for new moles or changes in moles. With early diagnosis and treatment, the chances of recovery are very good. The chance of getting melanoma increases as you get older, but people of any age can get melanoma. In fact, melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults. Each year, more than 50,000 people in the U.S. learn that they have melanoma. Melanoma is a serious and sometimes life-threatening cancer. If melanoma is found and treated in its early stages, the chances of recovery are very good. If it is not found early, melanoma can grow deeper into the skin and spread to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis. Once melanoma has spread to other parts of the body beyond the skin, it is difficult to treat.

Prevention & Sun Safety   Approximately 65 percent of melanomas—the most deadly form of skin cancer and one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States—are attributed to ultraviolet (UV) exposure from sunlight or artificial sources such as tanning beds.   Although melanoma may develop in parts of your body that are not exposed to the sun, Racing the Beast program recommends the following sun safety practices for all skin types to help prevent melanoma and other skin cancers:   Generously apply sunscreen to all exposed skin—even on cloudy days—year-round. ·         Be sure to use a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Look for ingredients in your sunscreen such as titanium dioxide and mexoryl, which block UVA rays better. ·         Use enough sunscreen. To protect your entire body, use approximately an ounce of sunscreen (about a full shot glass) and apply it at least 20 minutes before sun exposure. ·         Re-apply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating, even if the bottle says it’s waterproof or long lasting. ·         Remember, wearing sunscreen is not a blank check for spending unlimited time in the sun. Sunscreen is just one component of sun safety.   Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, when possible.   Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.   Use extra caution near water, snow and sand, as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.   Do not burn. Severe sunburns, especially during childhood, increase your risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancer. Just one blistering sunburn can double your chances of developing melanoma later in life.   Avoid intentional tanning and indoor tanning beds. Current research indicates there is no way to get a tan through ultraviolet exposure without increasing the risk for skin cancer.   Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.   Be aware of medications that can increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs have the ability to make your skin more sensitive to sunlight

In Memory - G.C. Agee Stage IV Melanoma

Corey Agee Atypical Mole (Pre-Cancerous)

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