Malignant melanoma: prevention, early detection, and treatment in the 21st century.

Malignant melanoma continues to present a significant public health problem as its incidence is rising faster than that of any other cancer in the US. At current rates, 1 in 74 Americans will develop melanoma during his or her lifetime. Management of melanoma is a complex issue requiring a multidisciplinary approach. The most effective method of protection against the development of melanoma is minimization of ultraviolet exposure from sunlight. Early detection and treatment are critical and result in improved patient survival rates. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment but many new promising therapies are being investigated. It is hoped that increased public and professional awareness and education in all areas relating to the prevention, detection, and treatment of malignant melanoma will contribute to decreasing trends in the incidence and mortality from this cancer in the future.