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Donation in loving memory of Linda Martin
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What’s this project about?
The number of people diagnosed with malignant melanoma each year in the UK is increasing at an alarming rate. When detected early, there is a good chance of successful treatment. But if the cancer has spread, the outlook is much poorer.
Professor Peter Mortimer is investigating how melanoma spreads – research that could lead to new treatments in the future to slow down or prevent the spread of the disease.
What is the science behind the project?
Cancer cells can undergo changes that allow them to break away from the original tumour and invade a nearby blood or lymph vessel. They can then travel around the body and start growing elsewhere.
Melanoma cells tend to travel via the lymphatic system (the body’s drainage system). This is why Professor Mortimer’s team is specifically investigating how this system is involved in melanoma spread. What sets this project apart is that they are studying the suspected melanomas while they are still in situ in patients’ skin - just before they have surgery.
The researchers are inviting people with suspected melanoma attending skin cancer clinics to take part. Before people have surgery, the team will carry out a number of sophisticated tests to find out more about the lymph vessels in and around their tumour.
After surgery to remove their tumour, tests will confirm if the person has melanoma - and if so, whether their disease has spread.
Professor Mortimer hopes to see key differences in the lymphatic system between people with melanoma that has spread and those where it has not. This knowledge could ultimately lead to new drugs that help prevent the spread of the disease.
The difference you can make
Over the last 25 years, rates of malignant melanoma have risen faster than any other common cancer in Britain. Understanding how melanoma spreads could lead to new treatments in the future.
Please help us raise £60,000 to help fund approximately half of the laboratory running costs and researcher support salaries for Professor Mortimer’s research into melanoma.
Personalising treatment
The team will also keep track of the patients’ recovery after their treatment. They are aiming to identify clues that could help doctors predict how a person’s melanoma might behave, enabling them to select the most effective treatment for that individual.
For more information about melanoma skin cancer you can visit our CancerHelp UK website melanoma skin cancer pages.
Rich takes on melanoma
Earlier this year, Rich Guerin, 38, noticed a mole on his face changing in shape, size and colour. He went to his doctor and was referred to a specialist, who diagnosed him with malignant melanoma. As well as receiving treatment, Rich decided to fight cancer by running the Dublin Marathon and raising funds for Professor Mortimer’s melanoma research project.
Read more about Rich’s experiences.
Rich’s diary
My story – 1 October 2009
I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma earlier this year and I’m currently fighting to beat it. I've had surgery to remove the tumour and two lymph nodes from my face and completed a month of radiotherapy. Now I want to do something to help everyone fight and beat this.
My marathon goal
After diagnosis and settling on a course of treatment, I figured the best thing I could do would be to raise money and awareness for the cause. I discovered Cancer Research UK was fighting against melanoma via innovative research and clinical trials, and that MyProjects offered specific projects that could show actual results to support. So, I decided to run the 2009 Dublin Marathon and raise money for Professor Peter Mortimer’s project on ‘Understanding How Skin Cancer Spreads’– research that could lead to new treatments in the future to slow down or prevent the spread of the disease.
Within two weeks of surgery I had started training for the marathon and started raising money. To date the response of my family, my friends, and my work colleagues has been absolutely humbling, amazing, and inspiring. I am a lucky man.
As one example of this, an extraordinary group of them will be joining me and running the marathon with me - flying into Dublin from New York City, Washington, D.C., Edinburgh, and London. Combined we are hoping to raise a significant amount of money (our group target is £60,000) and increase awareness as well.
For me, this offers some solace that we are doing something concrete to win the fight. My goal is to run sub-3 hours and to raise as much money as possible.
THIS CANCER PICKED THE WRONG GUY TO MESS WITH.
Pre-marathon update – 22 October 2009
The Dublin Marathon is this Monday and the training has gone spectacularly.
I’ve gone through a month of radiotherapy, a (thankfully negative) toe biopsy and several pulled hamstrings. Some family and friends who were meant to run with me are unfortunately unable to do it due to injuries.
Other than that – all systems are go.
In all seriousness, a significant effort has been put in by everyone. Despite the radiation, the toe biopsy, and everything else, I am still gunning to break 3-hours on Monday.
Post-marathon update – 27 October 2009
I didn't quite reach my target of sub-3 hours. I did 3.24, but I’m quite happy with that, considering everything I’ve been through in the last few months. I was actually on pace to do it....I went through 9 miles in exactly 1 hour and the half-marathon in 1.30, but then I pulled my left hamstring and then I was just holding on for dear life, and I slowed up a lot in the second half.
The other people in our group did great too - my cousin Chris Meyers from DC did 3.27; Simon McGeough from Edinburgh did 3.51; my best friend Cory from New York did 3.52; Barry Keane from Edinburgh did 4.03; and Robert Dunn from Edinburgh did 4.18.
We had a GREAT day and night out in Dublin too.
"Think where one’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends…" – Yeats
Take a look at Rich’s Giving Group to see how their fundraising is going.
Meet Carolyn
Carloyn Battrick discovered a mole on her leg. She visited the skin cancer clinic to have it removed. Before she had surgery she agreed to be part of Professor Mortimer’s clinical trial. Thankfully the melanoma had not spread and Carolyn still enjoys her games of tennis.
If you want to learn more about how to be SunSmart and find out the facts about skin cancer then visit our SunSmart site.
Donate now and you can help improve the outlook for people with melanoma.
