Malignant melanoma is one of the most serious forms of skin cancer and the problem is growing. Melanoma is projected to be the number-one cancer in the country by the year 2022.

Getting a sunburn is the most efficient way to develop this form of cancer. Chronic tanning is next in line.

Prevention and early diagnosis are critical to keeping melanoma in check and now, promising new technology and medicine are also helping.

Even when the Rabe kids are just heading out to play in the back yard, they know that sunscreen is a must.

Their mother, Deann, has been a strong advocate since her diagnosis of skin cancer three years ago.

The seriousness of that diagnosis didn't sink in at first. She says it finally hit home, "when they wanted me to go and test my liver and lungs to see if it had metastasized internally."

Deann is fortunate. Her melanoma was caught early, confined to just one spot on her arm. It was found when a mole changed color.

You don't have to wait for a warning sign like that. You can go in periodically for body scans to detect skin cancer early.

Dr. Suzanne Braddock, a dermatologist, says, "If they have a lot of flat moles, they really should be seen at least once a year. If they're pregnant or on birth control or in puberty, I call it the three p's, they should be seen every six to nine months."

Dr. Braddock says there are now very helpful tools to help in detection, including one that quite simple.

"It's called the dermatascope and it's used when its applied to the skin and under magnification. We can see if a mole has certain characteristics that would need to be removed and tested," she says.

Statistics show that malignant melanoma is on the rise and the people being diagnosed are younger than ever.

Twenty-eight-year-old Brett Smith had a lump under his arm removed two years ago. It was metastatic melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Brett enrolled in a University of Pennsylvania study to test a new anti cancer pill that blocks an abnormal molecule present in most melanoma cancer cells. It doesn't work for everyone but about half the study patients responded, including Brett.

There are also ongoing trials of a melanoma vaccine but those results have not been as promising.

The best news is that there are things you can do to help prevent skin cancer. Use a sunscreen, SPF 15 to 30, and apply it generously. Even if you're just driving your car, the sun's rays can do damage.

For Deann Rabe prevention is top of mind.

"You always hear about it coming back and that's a scary thought," she says.

Her young family is also cause for concern. Since she's been diagnosed, she knows they are at increased risk.

In addition to sunscreen, the Rabe kids wear hats that protect the face, avoid peak sun hours from 10 to 4 and use sunglasses.

For Deann and her family, sun safety is just part of life outdoors.

"It's just a day to day thing," she says. "It doesn't take that long."

It's especially important for parents to take the lead in guiding kids on sun safety because 80-percent of sun exposure generally takes place before age 18.

Basal cell carcinoma
This is the most common. These tumors don't spread quickly. It can take many months or years for one to grow to a diameter of one-half inch. Although this type of cancer rarely metastasizes, it can extend below the skin to the bone and cause considerable local damage.

Squamous cell carcinoma
This skin cancer may appear as a bump or as a red, scaly patch. Typically it's found on the rim of the ear, the face, the lips and mouth. This cancer can metastasize. When found early and treated properly, the cure rate by dermatologic surgery for both basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma is 95 percent.

Malignant melanoma
This can suddenly appear without warning but can also begin in or near a mole or another dark spot in the skin. The most important step you can take is to have any changing mole examined by a dermatologist so that any early melanoma can be removed while still in the curable stages.

Brown or black skin is not a guarantee against melanoma. Warning signs include: Changes in the surface of a mole; scaliness; oozing; bleeding or the appearance of a new bump, spread of pigment from the border into surrounding skin and change in sensation including itchiness, tenderness or pain.

Prevention
Sun avoidance is the best defense against skin cancer. Avoid peak sun times between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the ultraviolet rays are the most intense. Wear light colored, tightly woven protective clothing and wide brimmed hats. Apply sunscreens with SPF of at least 15.

Additional Resources
For more information about ongoing research and clinical trials of new drugs and vaccines to treat skin cancer, contact the National Institutes of Health. You can visit the NIH Web site.

The research name for the skin cancer pill is BAY-43-9006. The University of Pennsylvania will lead a national phase-three trial for the pill. No local cancer research center is currently involved in studies on the skin cancer pill or vaccine.