| Registered Charity |  |
Number 284582 |
Selection of Earlier & Continuing Supported Projects.
- The Pigmented Lesion Clinic at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol for the rapid referral of patients with suspected skin cancer.
- A Skin Cancer Specialist Nurse to support patients and their families.
- Educational booklets, leaflets and posters distributed throughout the South West of England.
- Maintenance of the Melanoma Registry of clinical and pathological data, one of the longest running data banks in Europe, if not the world, which is used to aid research into aspects of melanoma.
- " A study of the prevalence and aetiology of benign melanocytic naevi in childhood", under the leadership of Professor Jean Golding at the Institute of Child Health University of Bristol.
- Dr Lear and multi disciplinary team of clinicians at Bristol Royal Infirmary and Frenchay Hospital "A study of characteristics and histopathological parameters of prognosis of malignant melanoma".
- Dr T Eisen, University College, London " A study of melanocortin receptors in human melanoma cell lines".
- Dr J Newton Bishop, St James's University Hospital, Leeds. "Epidemiological study of late relapsing melanoma".
- Dr C R Goding, Marie Curie Research Institute, Surrey. "A study of potential prognostic and diagnostic markers MITF, STAT5 and Beta-CATENIN for malignant melanoma.
- SCaRF has funded the production of a Sun Awareness information leaflet aimed at adults with learning difficulties; this has been distributed through appropriate outlets in Bristol and South West area.
Some Published
Research Paper Topics:
often based on data from the Melanoma Registry.
- The effect of an initial incision biopsy on the eventual outcome of the disease. This study was the largest series in the world at the time and showed that there was no deleterious effect, as was previously thought.
- The effect of pregnancy on the outcome of the disease. This was the first paper to show that pregnancy had no effect - the outcome being governed by other factors. At about the same time two other papers appeared - one from Israel and the other from the USA - both showing the same lack of effect. Since then pregnant women with melanoma have not been routinely terminated.
- The optimum follow up routine for patients with various types of melanoma has been evaluated, thereby cutting down on unnecessary hospital or clinic follow up visits and reducing patient anxiety.
- Numerous other topics about melanoma have been published over the years.
For a list of funded research projects since 2000 click link at top.
Education & Patient Support.
- Play and Shade areas have been supplied to schools in the greater Bristol area, as described earlier.
- Volunteer doctors, nurses and support workers have held "clinics" at various supermarkets, motorway service areas etc where the public can ask to have their moles assessed, and to pick up educational literature about skin cancer. Several potential melanomas have been detected this way and the patients referred to their own GPs for further action.
Several leaflets have been sponsored, both for adults and for schoolchildren, such as the one illustrated.
The text of the above leaflet reads:
It is normal to have moles and freckles on our bodies. Many are present from childhood and are brown. Moles tend to be raised whilst freckles are flat.
Very few of these will ever give any trouble.
Sometimes moles and freckles change and if you notice any alteration you should ask your doctor's advice.
If moles, freckles or any warty or smooth skin lumps
Itch
Enlarge - become wider or thicker
Change Colour - become darker or paler
Bleed
or if new areas appear and persist for more than three months go to your doctor.
Most changes are innocent but they may indicate the start of a skin tumour and should be taken seriously because early treatment offers the best chance of a complete cure.
If in any doubt about spots on your skin, see your own doctor right away.
The Skin Cancer Research Fund: Department of Plastic
Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay, Bristol BS161LE
Secretary: Caroline Newton
Telephone: 0117 340 3130
e-mail: Caroline.Newton@north-bristol.swest.nhs.uk