Australia, known for its beautiful beaches and sunny climate, unfortunately, also holds the record for the highest melanoma rates globally.

The battle against one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer has seen significant developments thanks to modern medicine.

Recently, biotechnology company Moderna introduced the mRNA-4157 (V940) vaccine.

In a trial alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, the vaccine showed a remarkable 74.8 per cent survival rate and a 2.5-year recurrence-free rate among users.

This is a significant improvement over the 55.6 per cent survival rate from Keytruda alone.

Melanoma is one of the most invasive skin cancer variants, affecting over 18,000 Australians last year. Image Credit: Pexels/Cottonbro Studio

The trial's findings—presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting—sparked a wave of optimism.

Moderna's Senior Vice President, Dr Kyle Holen, emphasised the vaccine's broad potential, noting that the benefits were observed across various patient subgroups.

This suggests that mRNA-4157 (V940) could be a game-changer for many melanoma patients.

The science behind the vaccine is as fascinating as its results.

Moderna used mRNA technology, the same approach used for creating COVID-19 vaccines.

The mRNA-4157 (V940) vaccine was designed to teach the body's immune system to recognise and fight melanoma cells.

This personalised medicine approach is at the forefront of cancer therapy, aiming to transform how we treat cancer and improve patient outcomes.

This is a significant medical advancement, especially for readers who grew up under the Australian sun.

According to Cancer Australia, melanoma diagnoses were expected to account for about 11 per cent of all cancer cases in 2023, with an estimated 18,257 individuals affected.

Tragically, approximately 1,314 people were projected to lose their lives to this relentless disease.

Skin checks and sun safety have long been part of our health routines, but the possibility of a vaccine that can significantly reduce the risk of melanoma.

This groundbreaking discovery is not just a scientific achievement; it's a beacon of hope for thousands of Australians who face the threat of melanoma annually.

As we await further information on the availability and accessibility of this treatment, it's crucial to continue practising sun safety and getting regular skin checks.

Stay informed, stay protected, and look forward to a future where melanoma's threat is minimised thanks to scientific breakthroughs.

Key Takeaways

• A world-first personalised vaccine for melanoma developed by Moderna showed promising results in a clinical trial.
• The mRNA-4157 (V940) vaccine, in combination with Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by over 70 per cent.
• The trial's findings, which indicated significant advances in the fight against skin cancer, were presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.
• Australia, having the highest melanoma rates worldwide, could greatly benefit from this vaccine.

Have you or someone you know been affected by melanoma? What measures do you take to protect your skin from the harsh Australian sun? Share your thoughts and experiences with melanoma prevention and treatment in the comments section below.

 

[bluetang]

My daughter in law has stage 4 metasis Melanoma. They don't even know where it is, it could even be in her hair they said. Average life expectent is 4-6 months. Which is not good. So have skin check ups regularly

 

[peteloo]

another mRNA vaccine? Is cancer caused by virus or bacteria?
I checked - Cancer https://www.google.com/search?kgmid...d&shndl=17&shem=ssic&source=sh/x/kp/osrp/m5/5

It’s our diseased cells dying - diseased because it is cumulatively unhealthy. I would be hesitant to consider this without considering serious side effects.

 

[BellaB18]

This is fantastic. My mother saved me. She noticed a mole on my back 7 years ago. I don't like the look of that mole l want you to get it checked. As always l was yes ok when l get time. By luck l got a chest infection. While l was visiting the dr l said. By the way mum is at me about a mole on my back. Dr checked it. I think it's fine but best we take it off get it checked. I honestly didn't think it would be any thing to worry about. I had to go back to the dr about my chest infection the following week. By then she had my biopsy results. With tears in her eyes she asked if my husband was with me? No not this time. She said l have bad news you have melanoma. All l could say was shit. I got such a shock. Bless my dr she got straight on the phone to a plastic surgeon who specialises in skin cancer. The following week l was at his clinic having the rest of the area removed. My first thought was how do l tell the family. They took it a lot harder than myself.
I thought ok. Let's take it as it comes, l will fight like mad and what will be will be. I was very lucky thanks to my mum's eagle eye, it was a stage one. Every 6 months l have skin checks. I have had a few skin cancers removed. I also have chemotherapy cream. So if l see any thing that looks suspicious l put the cream on for the 3 week course. I am very fair and grew up in the 60s /70s when we got sunburnt dreadfully as kids.
Thank goodness now parents are soooo good with sunblock hats and covering up their kids.
Thank you to my mum for her eagle eye.
Please don't take the sun for granted.
Kind regards to all Vicki

 

[Rob44]

"Recently, biotechnology company Moderna introduced the mRNA-4157 (V940) vaccine."

Earwigoagen. No comment; all has been said.

Except that I understand that melanomas are not all necessarily black; some may be red.

 

[vs7024]

All you have to do to stop cancer from developing is make sure your body is alkaline (cancer loves an acidic environment) and cleanse all parasites from your body. Ivermectin (you know, the horse paste), is a good one for that (why do you think they banned the use of it at the beginning of 2020). Eat pepitas on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, regularly drink beetroot juice, with celery, apples, lemons, & ginger. Don't eat processed foods and stay well clear of toxic franchise food outlets like the one advertised with a man dressed as a clown, or the one with the colonel who uses 15 secret spices.

Have people learned nothing from the last 4 years? Yet another jab in the arm to kill off another few billion of the world's population. You cannot vaccinate against cancer, and you definitely cannot vaccinate against viruses, as they (viruses) are the body's way of detoxing, I was told that by a specialist doctor many years ago.

Where is the completed safety data, and clinical trial data for these new "cancer" jabs? Or are they to be experimental just like the last lot of gene therapy shots (all the animals died) the world was blackmailed into taking for a disease that only ever existed as a computer model. For God's sake wake up before it's too late for humanity. Excess deaths worldwide, since the last lot of jabs, have been through the roof, and the vaccine damage is horrendous.

Most important of all, DO NOT BELIEVE THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA, THEY LIE!!

 

[Rickcb63]

So here we go again ! Another clinical trial drug that has not gone through the proper testing and procedures, to be able to be even loosely called a vaccine !
Moderna a company that has never created a working fit for use drug, since their conception!

BEWARE PEOPLE , IF YOU HAVNT REALISED ANYTHING ABOUT THE LAST FEW YEARS ? THEN DO NOT PARTAKE IN THIS AND DO SOME HOMEWORK……

 

[Towing]

You can also get "sunburnt" from the reflection off water onto your skin. Also if you are close to the heat and reflection off a bitumen road

 

[Littleboy8]

You can also get "sunburnt" from the reflection off water onto your skin. Also if you are close to the heat and reflection off a bitumen road

You can also get sunburnt in the shade