Young Patients See Strength in Numbers at Moffitt’s Pediatric Melanoma Clinic Day
WHO: Moffitt Cancer Center’s Pediatric Melanoma Clinic
WHAT: Moffitt Cancer Center will host its annual Pediatric Melanoma Clinic at its Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Outpatient Center complete with children’s activities, treats and balloon animals. It’s a way for pediatric patients to hopefully look forward to a doctor’s visit.
Moffitt experts will also participate in a pediatric melanoma symposium to discuss treatment plans and the impacts treatment may have on families and their children’s day-to-day lives.
Diagnosing melanoma in children can be difficult and it is usually necessary to consult with a pathologist to confirm. While Moffitt doesn’t traditionally treat children, the cancer center offers a variety of additional tests and procedures that can establish the diagnosis with the highest possible degree of certainty.
Eight percent of all cancers in children age 15 to 19 are melanomas.
Although it is very rare, melanoma can even be found in newborns and toddlers. But the disease becomes more common as children get older, especially among teenage girls. Research shows sun exposure and tanning bed use among teens have increased risk.
Other risk factors include:
- Fair skin
- A history of many blistering sunburns
- Several large or many small moles
- A family history of unusual moles
- A family history of melanoma
Moffitt experts, families available for interviews. For information about last year’s event, click here.
WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 6
- Pediatric Melanoma Clinic, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Pediatric Melanoma Symposium, 9-11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Moffitt Cancer Center Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Outpatient Center at McKinley Campus, 10920 N. McKinley Drive
CONTACT: For more information email steve.blanchard@moffitt.org or call 813-745-1718.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 50 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt is a Top 10 cancer hospital and has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999. Moffitt devotes more than 2 million square feet to research and patient care. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. With more than 6,000 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.5 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.