She once used sunbeds up to five times a week because she thought her tan 'made her look healthy'.

But Joanne Cobb's obsession with having a golden glow has left her facing a possible death sentence.

Experts say combined targeted therapy against the BRAF/MAPK pathway with immunotherapy shows promise as a new approach for the treatment of melanoma.

"Our results provide preclinical evidence for the rational combination of BRAF-targeted therapy and immunotherapy in the treatment of this most dangerous type of skin cancer," lead researcher Jennifer A. Wargo, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, was quoted as saying.

A new study with a BRAF V600 inhibitor (PLX3603) opening and that is posted in roche-trials.com and will be also in the next few days in clinicaltrials.gov

The study is in Australia and Europe.

http://www.roche-trials.com/trialDetailsGet.action?studyNumber=NP25247&diseaseCategoryId=58&divisionName=PHA.

This is a non-randomized trial, so you will get the "real" thing as well as other agents in the pharmokinetics based trial.

Melanoma Patients Australia is delighted to announce a $25,000 donation from the Smiling for Smiddy Challenge to help provide greater regional support and information for patients diagnosed with deadly melanoma.  

The Smiling for Smiddy Challenge, a gruelling 8 day 1,600km cycle from Brisbane to Home Hill, raised over $540,000 for cancer research and support last year alone.  

The new Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Melanoma in Australia and New Zealand are now online:

As you know it is vital for not only clinicians but also patients to be aware of the current guidlines, take a look and let us know what you think. 

If you are interested in the new guidelines click on the link http://www.cancer.org.au/Healthprofessionals/clinicalguidelines/skincancer.htm