In January 2008, Ted discovered another lump in his neck, resulting in surgery and more radiation. In July 2008 and February 2009, new tumors were discovered in Ted’s brain, indicating he had progressed to the land of Stage IV, where few travelers return from.  Several brain radiosurgeries were performed as well as whole brain irradiation, and 6 rounds of less than fun interleukin 2 treatment were completed.  

In August of 2010, Ted had surgery to remove a section of small bowel that Mel had infiltrated.   Ted’s  story includes never slowing down throughout all of the above, and he plans to complete the City of Oaks half marathon in November.  So park your reasons why you can’t do this in a convenient spot, preferably near a nice running trail, lace up your running shoes, and get ready to join Stacy, Ted, and many more for a nice morning run on November 7th!  

Melanoma begins in skin cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells that make melanin, which gives skin its color. Melanin also protects the deeper layers of the skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. When people spend time in the sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin and cause the skin to tan. This also happens when skin is exposed to other forms of ultraviolet light (such as in a tanning booth). If the skin receives too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become cancerous. This condition is called melanoma.

How and where does melanoma appear?
The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of a mole. But melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole. The majority of melanomas are black or brown. However, some melanomas are skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white. 

In men, melanoma most often shows up:
on the upper body, between the shoulders and hips  and on the head and neck.

In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs.

In dark-skinned people, melanoma often appears under the fingernails or toenails, on the palms of the hands and on the soles of the feet.

Although these are the most common places on the body for melanomas to appear, they can appear anywhere on the skin. That's why it is important to always examine your skin to check for new moles or changes in moles. With early diagnosis and treatment, the chances of recovery are very good.

The chance of getting melanoma increases as you get older, but people of any age can get melanoma. In fact, melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults. Each year, more than 50,000 people in the U.S. learn that they have melanoma.

The ABCD's of Melanoma
A sudden or continuous change in the appearance of a mole is a sign that you should see your doctor. The ABCD rule can help you remember the symptoms of melanoma:

	A for Asymmetry One half is different than the other half.
	B for Border Irregularity The edges are notched, uneven, or blurred.
	C for Color The color is uneven. Shades of brown, tan, and black are present.
	D for Diameter Diameter is greater than 6 millimeters.

Other Warning Signs:
• The appearance of a new bump or nodule
• Color spreads into surrounding skin
• redness or swelling beyond the mole
• pain
• tenderness
• itching
• bleeding
• oozing
• scaly appearance

For more information on melanoma, visit the Melanoma Research Foundation