Pediatric Melanoma Increasing at Alarming Rate

With an 84% increase since 1975, skin cancer in children has become the fastest growing type of the disease, even though it still represents a small percentage of overall melanoma diagnoses. Dr. Julie Lange of Johns Hopkins says that doctors often miss it since symptoms vary between children and adults, and they simply aren’t expecting it because “…for so long, it was a disease for the middle aged and elderly.” Although tanning beds and frequent sunburning explain increases in teenage girls and white women, cases like that of 5-year-old Ashley Garcia — too young for much exposure and dark-complected — are more difficult to... [read full story]