- ever had a really bad sunburn?
- ever been to a tanning bed?
- ever had mole removed?
- been checked by a dermatologist in the last 12 months?
According to a recent study, the average wait time to get in to see a dermatologist for Botox is 8 days. To get in to see a dermatologist for a changing mole? 35 days. The researchers didn’t ask participants which was a greater emergency, but we’re here to tell you: a changing mole is an emergency.
Melanoma is a common and serious skin cancer which, if not removed early while it is thin, spreads internally and is usually fatal. It is often ignored until too late because it may look harmless. In fact, many people don't realize that something so small on their skin can kill them if not treated promptly.
Melanoma occurs in every age group after puberty and is the most common cancer killer in the 25-35 age group. The U.S. incidence of melanoma is nearly triple that of new HIV infections and is increasing at an epidemic rate; 108,230 new cases are predicted in 2007. Most new melanoma patients have no family history of the disease. It can strike anyone regardless of health, physical condition, or skin complexion. On the average, there is a melanoma death in the U.S. almost every hour.
THE RESEARCH FOR A MELANOMA BLOOD TEST
We believe that two researchers at the University of Missouri have found the answer.
Dr. John Viator and Dr. Paul Dale are working on a simple blood test that would detect melanoma the moment it spreads – at the single cell level. Melanoma becomes deadly when it metastasizes through the blood and attacks vital organs in the body. Currently, there are no early detection tools for metastasis, only scans like MRIs. Scans just aren't enough. Scans only reveal tumors that are big enough to be visible to the eye – and big enough to see on print-outs or computer screens. Tumors of that magnitude are made up of billions of cells. This test can detect a single cell.
How it works
Dr. Viator and Dr. Dale use a photoacoustic laser to detect the circulating tumor cells in blood samples. Melanoma is a cancer that contains melanin, the dark pigment in skin. Melanin, because it's dark, absorbs light. 
When doctors shine laser light on a blood sample, a melanoma cell will absorb the light energy and vibrate, emitting sound detected by a sensitive microphone. Click here to see a video.
Free Skin Cancer Screenings – Olay teams up with Marcia Cross
Skin cancer is very prevalent in our society today, so be sure to take advantage of the free skin cancer screening program next month, called Skin Cancer Takes Friends. Olay and the American Society for Dermatological Surgery have teamed up with Desperate Housewife, Marcia Cross, to spread awareness of the program, which is meant to encourage people to bring their friends to dermatologic surgeons for a free screening. "I'm proud to be part of a cause that is near and dear to my heart," said actress Marcia Cross. "Having had two family members suffer from melanoma, I've come to understand the importance of skin cancer detection and prevention."
For more information about the program, go to http://skincancertakesfriends.org/skincancer/
ELIZABETH’S STORY
February 14, 2008
My father, John Krekeler, died of melanoma two years ago. In 1996 I was in eighth grade, and my dad, who was fair-skinned like I am, 
had a bad malignant mole removed from the top of his head. From that day on and every day for the rest of his life, he wore a cowboy hat to protect himself from the sun. You may have seen him around – he was hard to miss. John was very diligent about going to the dermatologist for check-ups, and after that bad mole, was getting regular CAT scans as well. In 2002, when I was in college, John went in for his routine CAT scan, and doctors found a tumor the size of a baseball near his kidney. After successfully completing two rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, John was cancer free for almost three years. We had believed that we had saved him.
Then, in 2005, he got a headache that sent him to the emergency room. More scans found tumors in his brain and spine. He was gone in eight months. He didn’t die because of therapy. The therapy was great. He died because he didn’t detect it in time.
In late 2007, and purely by chance – although, to be honest, I think it was for a reason – I met two researchers at the University of Missouri who have been working an early detection melanoma blood test. This test would have saved my dad twice. We only found out about his tumors when they were big enough to show up on scans. I know, in my heart, that his therapy would have been successful had we found it much earlier - had we had this test.
It’s my personal mission – and now the mission of my closest friends and family - to see that this research is funded, successful, and saving the lives of patients this year. I hope you will help me make that hope a reality.
Yours truly,
Elizabeth
Hope is passion for what is possible.
-- Soren Kierkegaard
WHY CONTRIBUTE
This test would help millions. While the early detection test has been created, it still not on the shelves, and is still unable to help anyone – and it won’t be able to help anyone unless we raise the money now to complete this research.
One million people in the U.S. need this test today, and more than 10,000 will die of melanoma this year.
We believe in the science. The need is clear. Please help save lives by contributing to this research now. Our goal is $150,000 and with your help, we will reach it. Your contribution to the University of Missouri is tax deductible and sincerely appreciated.
We’ve raised over $60,000 of our $150,000 goal in three weeks – and on Saturday 2.23.08 we hope to raise another $50,000. 104 individual donors have contributed almost $25,000 through our email campaign and we’ve secured over $10,000 in sponsorships and $25,000 from foundation support.
To contribute by mail, send a check made out to “University of Missouri” with the memo field identifying this research: “Viator Melanoma Research Fund” to:
Viator Melanoma Research Fund
Bond Life Sciences, Center Fiscal Office
Attn: Kathy Haynes, Business Manager
106b Life Sciences Center
1201 Rollins Street
Columbia, MO 65211-7310
LINKS
- Melanoma.com
- The University of Missouri
- Famous people lost to melanoma
- Detecting Cancer with Acoustics Article
- Inaugural issue of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center magazine (PDF)
- ABC 7 Medical: 'Hearing' Cancer Streaming Video
Supporting Foundations:
Event Photos from “An Evening in Monte Carlo” are in!
“An Evening in Monte Carlo”, our major fundraiser on February 23rd was a huge success and a lot of fun! Check out 300 images of the event online. The photos are free, but please consider donating $10.00 via our website above if you would like to download any of them!
CONTACT US
We would love to hear from you. For more information on our efforts, please contact our Cause Catalyst: Melanoma board:
- Candace Klein
- Molly Sandquist-Wharton
- Tammy Riddle
- Elizabeth Edwards
In memory of John Michael Krekeler (1955-2005)
John grew up in Monfort Heights in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1973. He attended Miami University where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1977 and an MBA in 1983. He served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1977 until 1984, when he accepted a position with IBM.
Photography was John’s third career but a life long passion. John’s personal work through out his adulthood has focused on black and white images of life around him. He described himself as a “purist” and developed his own images by hand.
John measured his wealth by the quality of his friends and family – and felt that he was a very rich man. He was an excellent husband, father, son, brother, and friend. Those who knew John remember him for his hilarious sense of humor, generous heart, and courage to always live by your principles.
His courage lives on in those who knew and loved him.
BIOS
John A. Viator, Ph.D.
John A. Viator, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Departments of Biological Engineering and Dermatology at the University of Missouri in Columbia. 
He entered the University of Washington in Seattle on a Naval ROTC scholarship in 1981 and received the B.S. in physics in 1985. After serving for four years on active duty as a surface warfare officer, he entered graduate school at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, where he earned the M.S. in mathematics in 1993. He entered the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology in 1995, where he received the M.S. in applied physics in 1997, continuing to earn the Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Oregon Health & Science University.
Dr. Viator completed postdoctoral studies at the Beckman Laser Institute at the University of California at Irvine and in the Department of Dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University under an NIH Ruth L. Kirschstien Fellowship. In the fall of 2004 he began his current faculty appointment at the University of Missouri. His research interests are broadly defined as biomedical optics, specifically in photoacoustic applications in dermatology, surgery, and oncology.
Paul S. Dale, MD
Paul S. Dale, MD, FACS is an associate professor of clinical surgery with the Department of Surgery and the Chief of the Division
of Surgical Oncology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. He is also the Margaret Proctor-Mulligan Distinguished Faculty Scholar and is the Cancer Physician Liaison to the ACS for Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.
He attended the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham and completed residency in general surgery at Mercer University School of Medicine. He was fellowship trained in Surgical Oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Dale is board certified with the American College of Surgeon and a fellow of the ACS.
Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Dr. Dale spent 10 years in private practice at Southeastern Surgical Oncology in Macon, Georgia, and was the Chief of Surgical Oncology at Mercer University School of Medicine. Dr. Dale joined the faculty at the University of Missouri in August of 2004.
Dale’s practice includes breast, liver, gastrointestinal, and melanoma cancers. His research focuses on cancer prevention, cancer screening and surgical oncology.
Ryan M. Weight, M.S.
Ryan M. Weight, M.S., is a D.O. candidate at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, class of 2010. While pursuing his M.S
. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Missouri, Ryan worked on his thesis, “Photoacoustic detection of metastatic melanoma in the circulatory system”, with Dr. John Viator and Dr. Paul Dale. His work garnered him First Place at the American Medical Association MSS Research Poster Presentation in November 2007.
Ryan graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 2005. His passion for improving cancer technologies is clearly evident. "I continue to work in this field because I know that there is a better way to diagnose and treat those who suffer from cancer, especially melanoma. Finding and adapting new technologies to battle cancer is the only way for us to overcome the obstacles set before us. I look forward to a day when we, as a society, remember cancer as a 'once fatal disease' "
PATIENTS
April 23, 2008
To melanoma patients and those who would like to find out more about the blood test:
We are still fundraising and trying to get the word out about this project. As a melanoma patient or a survivor in remission, you won't personally be able to benefit from the test until we get the research done – that’s why we’re working so hard to raise the funds to make that happen. Dr. Viator can't test your blood and give you a report yet – unfortunately, that would be against FDA regulations. That's why we need to get this done. And that's why I'm so convinced that it takes people like us moving Universities, foundations, governments, and communities in the right direction. We need earlier detection now, not later. The good news is, because of our efforts in February, we were able to raise enough money to start the research this summer. But not enough to finish it.
You are someone with a message and a stake in this. You know more than anyone how this test could help. The best way to get involved today is to help petition foundations (melanoma foundations, cancer foundations, community foundations, and private donors) to advocate and raise funds for Dr. Viator's research. Take your destiny into your own hands.
What’s your next step? If you want this test to be available as I do, pick up the phone and call the Executive Director of your local charity or your State Representative – or the guy down the street who knows someone who could help. Tell them about the project and why it’s important to you. Every $1,000 counts – and we need over $50,000 to make this happen. If you need any materials or information, or just want to find out more contact Elizabeth at elizabeth.ann.edwards(at)gmail(dot)com.
I hope to hear from you soon and I hope you can help! I'm doing everything I can, but it's not enough!
Yours truly,
Elizabeth
“I am the captain of my soul; I am the master of my fate” – William Ernest Henley