SKIN CANCER
A Tailored Internet Intervention to Reduce Skin Cancer Risk Behaviors Among Young Adults
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States,
with over a million new cases diagnosed yearly. Young adults
are increasingly at risk of melanoma. Contributing to the increasing
skin cancer risk is the fact that US adolescents have
the lowest skin protection rates of all age groups, and also
demonstrate increased exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet
(UV) radiation. Innovative interventions are needed
to have an impact on skin cancer risk among young people.
Unlike previous interventions, this skin cancer risk reduction
intervention will be tailored to each individual participant and
delivered via the Internet. The intervention will emphasize
appearance concerns, which are known to be the primary motivation
for UV exposure and lack of skin protection among
young adults. This will be accomplished in part through the
use of personalized facial images showing UV damage, as
well as computerized age progression demonstrations.
The primary aim is to examine the efficacy of a tailored intervention
delivered via the Internet designed to increase skin
protection and decrease sun exposure behavior among young
adults at moderate to high risk of developing skin cancer. Participants
will be randomized to the tailored intervention, the Skin
Cancer Foundation website, or an assessment-only condition.
SKIN CANCER
Reducing Skin Cancer Risk in Childhood Cancer Survivors
The objective of this study is to determine the impact of a
12-month patient activation and education intervention on skin
cancer early detection practices among childhood cancer survivors
treated with radiation.
There are currently more than 420,000 Americans who are
long-term survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer. While
these groups have greatly benefited from recent medical advances, primarily increasing overall survival rates, treatment
advances have come at a cost. It is now clear that childhood
radiation therapy has caused survivors to be at extremely high
risk for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and increased risk
of melanoma. Early detection is crucial to reduce the morbidity
caused by NMSCs, and the morbidity and mortality incurred
due to melanoma. Both patient and provider action are needed
to detect and treat early skin cancers and to find new solutions
to ensure expedited follow-up care and treatment, especially
among those who have little access to dermatologists.
To reduce skin cancers among this young and dispersed patient
population, this study will address several key issues: (1) how to
provide patients with the skills needed to conduct effective skin
self-examinations; (2) how to prompt action from patient’s physicians
when worrisome moles and lesions are found; and (3) how
to ensure rapid access to dermatologic exams.
SKIN CANCER
Topical Chemoprevention of Skin Cancer Biomarkers
Biomarkers are molecules found in the body and inside of cells.
Some biomarkers are associated with specific diseases, such as
skin cancer. In this research study, 2 topical medications -- diclofenac
and α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) -- will be evaluated
to test how well they prevent the development of non-melanoma
skin cancers by reversing certain biomarkers in the skin.
Twenty-four male and female patients of the Dermatology
Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a history
of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and
at least 8 actinic keratoses on the upper extremities are potentially
eligible for study participation.
The purpose of the study is to see if diclofenac and DFMO can
be applied daily or if they need to be applied twice per day
