Philadelphia. “And of those,
we hope we can cure half. But
in melanoma, that is a major
advance. It’s the best new therapy
that’s been tested in the last 35
years—and it might have allowed
us to cure Bob Marley.”
CR | Page No. 35 | www.CRmagazine.org
© DAVID BURNE TT / CoN TACT PRESS IMAGES
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
over the past decade, it has
become increasingly apparent to
melanoma researchers that there
are different types of melanomas
that are driven by different
genetic mutations. These findings
help explain why some melanomas
arise from sun exposure, and
others do not. They also make
the next goal clear: finding
and targeting, with agents like
Gleevec, the genetic mutations
that drive these different types of
melanoma.
For now, though, early detection
remains the only way to continue
to increase survival rates.
That’s why it’s critical, experts
say, that both patients and
physicians alike learn not only
about the ABCDE mnemonic
of melanoma detection (see
sidebar ), but about the types
of melanomas that develop in
darker-skinned people, like Marley.
Marley’s music became even
more popular after he died. He
would undoubtedly be proud to
know that his musical legacy lives
on through his 10 children, three
of whom—Ziggy, Damian and
Stephen—are Grammy Award–
winning artists. But he wouldn’t
have been surprised. “My music
will go on forever,” he once said.
“Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when
me know facts me can say facts.
My music will go on forever.”
Bob Marley began his Exodus tour
(above) in May 1977 and was diagnosed
with melanoma two months later.
