If you are a young adult diagnosed with melanoma, you need the expertise of a comprehensive cancer center.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops when the cells that produce the pigment of your skin are overexposed to UV rays. These cells, called the melanocytes, will create more melanin, which causes your skin to darken. Intense sun exposure or the regular use of tanning beds can cause these clusters of melanocytes to development into melanoma.
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers found in people under the age of 30, with cases significantly increasing over the years — due mostly in part to the use of tanning beds and lack of sun protection. Just one bad sunburn can increase your chances of developing melanoma.
A melanoma diagnosis in your 20s or 30s means you need a team of experts who treat cancers like yours every day. We can help.
Treating melanoma in young adults
A cancer diagnosis as a young adult requires considerate planning to accommodate for challenges that may not be experiences in older patients. Your treatment will be personalized to you and your specific cancer.
- Multidisciplinary care with a team of surgical oncologists, dermatologists, medical and radiation oncologists, all with exclusive expertise in melanoma.
- Dermatopathologists who analyze the tissue samples taken during a biopsy to confirm your diagnosis and provide their expertise on best treatment moving forward. Our dermatopathologists focus specifically on cancers that affect the skin, hair and nails.
- Fertility preservation consultation before you begin treatment to discuss fertility risks, preservation options and initiate the process of preservation if you choose.
- Our Young Adult Cancer Program is a support network for patients in their 20s and 30s to lean on each other while enduring this unique journey – including mental health support, financial guidance and social events.
- Sexual Health Clinic to address mental and physical side effects of treatment that may affect intimacy.
- Genetic testing to determine if your melanoma is related to a genetic predisposition that made you more susceptible to developing cancer.
Roswell Park’s Young Adult Cancer Program
We know cancer was never part of your plan. We know what it’s like to face cancer while in college, building your career or raising a family. We are here to help.