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Why The Black Ribbon? Melanoma means "black tumor" Black is the color of the warrior's mood when going into battle and the melanoma patient is in the battle for life Black is our rage when we consider the lack of progress and lack of research funding going on after 25 years of the so-called "War On Cancer" Badges! Cancer survivor,melanoma and other cancer pin ons and magnetic badges. This and others are Available Now! Badge shown is actual size. All badges are 2 1/4 in. diameter Inspiration badges are now available   New! Magnetic ribbons. Support Cancer Research

Consider these excerpts from the book "Saving Your Skin" by Dr. Barney Kenet and Patricia Lawler. This book was published in 1994. You can find out more about this book on-line at amazon.com.

The Statistics of Melanoma

Today there are 300,000 people in the United States who have had or are now afflicted with melanoma. Consider these statistics:

Melanoma is the most frequent cancer among women aged 25 to 29, and the second most frequent (after breast cancer ) among women aged 30 to 34.

In 1993, approximately 32,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma and 6,800 will die of it.

Melanoma is now the seventh most common type of cancer in the U.S., and may become as common as colon cancer (presently the third most common malignancy) if steps are not taken to control it.

The death rate from melanoma has tripled in the past four decades.

Twenty-five percent of melanoma cases occur in people 39 years old or younger.

Although the United States' population increased ten percent from 1980 to 1987, the number of melanomas increased 83 percent.

Researchers at the New York University Melanoma Cooperative Group report that the lifetime risk of contracting melanoma in 1980 was one in 250; by the year 2000 the risk is predicted to climb to one in 75. Compare that with 1935, when the lifetime risk of melanoma was only one in 1,500. The N.Y.U. group further documents dramatic increases in melanoma in particular parts of the country. For example, there was a 340 percent increase in risk between 1969 and 1978 for Caucasians living in southern Arizona. While other types of cancer - such as breast, lung, and prostate cancer - occur with greater frequency, melanoma demands close attention. It strikes and kills young to middle-aged people. On average, for each death from melanoma, more than 17 years of potential life before age 65 are lost.