Black History of Health: Bob Marley

Almost 43 years ago, the world lost a legend when reggae artist Bob Marley died after a four-year struggle with melanoma skin cancer that started on his toe.   This may seem unusual, as melanoma is usually linked to patients with fair skin and constant exposure to UV radiation from the sun. But the “No Woman, No Cry” singer was diagnosed with a rare but fast-growing type of skin cancer known as acral melanoma, which isn’t strongly correlated to UV exposure.  What is melanoma? The American Cancer Society describes melanoma as a type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes (the cells that give the skin its tan or brown color) start to grow out of control. Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can then spread to other areas of the body.  Melanoma is much less common than some other types of skin cancers. But melanoma is more dangerous because it’s much more likely to spread to other parts of the body if not caught and treated early. How does the cancer start? Per the American Cancer Society, most skin cancers start...