Monday, March 24, 2014
James Rebhorn had just finished filming his role of George Wilbur in the movie My Cousin Vinny when he was diagnosed in 1992 with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. While he went on to play a variety of other notable roles, including Carrie Mathison’s bipolar father in the Showtime hit Homeland and the secretary of defense in the 1996 classic Independence Day, he died at age 65 on March 21 from the disease, his agent told the New York Times.
Rebhorn is one of around 9,700 Americans who will die from melanoma this year, according to the American Cancer Society, and the rate of diagnosis for new cases is continuously on the rise, even in children. Here’s what you need to know.
What Are the Risk Factors?
One of the most important factors in melanoma risk is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. People who regularly expose themselves to direct sunlight and to tanning beds increase their risk of damaging their skin cells, and therefore are at a higher risk for melanoma. Fortunately, it’s also one of the most actionable points. Covering up, limiting time in the sun, avoiding tanning booths, and always wearing sunscreen are some ways limit your risk
Additionally, people with a family history of melanoma, or those with fair skin that burns and freckles easily are also at a higher risk. Men also have a slightly higher risk, and risk also tends to increase with age. If this applies to you, make sure you get regular skin checks, and keep an eye on your skin.

What Should I Look Out For?
The American Cancer Society recommends keeping in mind the ABCDE rule for monitoring your skin and checking your moles. The acronym shows all the things to look out for:
A: asymmetrical shape
B: irregular borders
C: different colors
D: a diameter bigger than a pencil eraser
E: evolving shape, color or size.
If you have any of these irregularities, you should see a skin doctor. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 75,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in 2014.
What Are the Treatment Options?
Depending on how early the melanoma is caught, treatment can vary from a minimal surgery to remove the problematic mole to full chemotherapy and radiation. This is determined by the stage of melanoma.

Stage 0: The cancer has only affected the skin and can therefore be effectively treated with a simple surgery.
Stage I and Stage II: The cancerous area is removed via surgery, and a biopsy of the lymph nodes is recommended, since melanoma frequently spreads from the skin to the lymph nodes.
Stage III: In this stage, the cancer has already affected the lymph nodes by the time the melanoma is diagnosed. The cancerous skin is removed, and the cancerous parts of the lymph nodes may also be removed. Radiation may be used on the lymph nodes, and chemotherapy may be given.
Stage IV: Cancer diagnosed at this stage is very hard to cure, as the disease has spread from the skin and lymph nodes to other parts of the body. Several surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy may all be part of the treatment plan.
RELATED: Trial Results Spur Talk of Melanoma 'Cure'
What’s the Survival Rate?
If the cancer is found early, in Stages 0 or I, the 5-year survival rate can be as high as 97 percent, and 10-year survival rate can be as high as 95 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. That’s because the cancers that only affect the skin are much less dangerous.
As the initial diagnosis rate becomes more severe, the survival rate declines. For Stage III cancers, the survival rates vary from 40 percent to 78 percent at five years, to 24 percent to 68 percent at ten years. Once the cancer is found in Stage IV, survival rates drop to 15 to 20 percent for five years, and 10-15 percent for 10 years. This highlights the importance of both protecting your skin to avoid melanoma, and regularly checking skin for irregularities.