Published Online: Monday, October 8, 2012

 

Not surprisingly, melanoma nurse practitioner Rajni Kannan is passionate about helping her patients at NYU’s Cancer Institute to fight this devastating disease.

That’s why Kannan, BS, MS, RN, ANP-BC, is excited about the remarkable developments she’s seen in the treatment of metastatic melanoma over the last 5 years—including last year’s FDA approval of two new agents, ipilimumab and vemurafenib.

At the same time, Kannan is determined to reduce the number of patients she sees at the Manhattan facility based at the Langone Medical Center by being an advocate for increased awareness of the dangers of tanning, she told attendees during a presentation at NCONN 2012.

The incidence of melanoma, the deadliest of all skin cancers, is quickly rising, and the disease is responsible for more than 8000 deaths each year, Kannan said, adding that the average survival for melanoma patients with metastatic disease is 7 months, and that 50% of these patients will develop brain metastases. Kannan reminded audience members that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major risk factor for skin cancer, and that the World Health Organization has declared UV-emitting tanning devices carcinogenic. Read more…