2008

Recession does not mean Remission, How Melanoma cells are unable to read the economic indices!

By Jose M. Acostamadiedo, M.D., July 13 2008,

The current economic situation has affected the fishing industry due to the high prices of fuel, less people are able to afford to go offshore fishing and even less are able to participate in high stakes fishing tournaments. Large corporate sponsors have backed off sponsoring the events. Organizations like Catch Cancer Before It's Too Late, Inc. and other charities depend exclusively on the generosity of the tournament and organizers to be able to staff the events. The current fear of a recession has everyone backing away from sponsoring and advertising. Unfortunately melanoma does not read the Wall Street Journal, neither does it watch the market, so the rates will continue to rise and this year perhaps cancers that could have been detected early are going to end up at a more advanced stage and cost more to the economy in years to come. It is well known that a melanoma detected at a stage less than 2 saves the health care system an average of  fifty to one hundred thousand dollars. Once a melanoma reaches the lymph nodes it requires adjuvant chemotherapy even if it is resected in its entirety, The chemotherapy or immunotherapy with alpha interferon will need to be administered over a year with an average cost of fifty thousand dollars for the drug alone, this does not include doctor fees diagnostic tests or laboratory tests. On another front certain non melanoma skin cancers are more prone in thie environment to be ignored or "put on hold" this will cause cancers like basal cells and squamous cells that the patients already know about to be put on hold until they have the economic means to pay for certain procedures to avoid disfiguring surgery.

 

 

By C. CLAIBORNE RAY

Published: March 25, 2008

Victoria Roberts

Times Health Guide: Skin Cancer »

Q. Two years ago I learned I had Stage 1 melanoma and was told after surgery that it was completely removed. But every six months I have to go for body scans and sonograms to make sure. So is it gone or hiding?

A. Your doctors are taking appropriate measures to follow up on your treatment, according to authorities like the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, not because the surgery was ineffective but because there is a high risk of developing new melanomas or having a recurrence of the original melanoma nearby or elsewhere in the body. The exams and tests can also catch other types of skin cancer that may develop.

Future risks of melanoma, the most invasive form of skin cancer, are assessed by the stage (the size and how far it has spread) when it is diagnosed and treated, as well as by other factors, like a family history of the disease or types of moles that may signify increased risks.

The thicker the original lesion, the higher the risks and the more frequent the checkups and tests that may be called for, including X-rays, blood tests and scans of chest, liver, bones and brain.

The frequency of the checkups may decrease as time goes by, especially after Stage 1 melanoma.

Your own regular monitoring of the skin all over your body is an important part of the best care.

2007

Successful Screenings at the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament.

Dr. Buck Henry and Dr. Padman Menon along with Dr. Acostamadiedo, provided screenings at the VBBT. The event was a success with 191 billfish released and a record purse. Team Hunter won the event.

The winners Dr. Acostamadiedo, Nolan Raunswinter, Capt Walt Spruill, Skokie Spruill and Richard Brown

Dr. Acostamadiedo Accepts the Top Angler Award.

 

 

2006

Thumbs up for Successful Screenings at the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament.

Virginia Beach VA August 22-27,2006

"Clean Bill after my Checkup", 2005 Top lady Angler Barbara Gudoski gives Catch Cancer the "Thumbs Up"

The organizing committee of the VBBT ,Earle Hall, Paula Owen and Deirdre Bell, sponsored the screenings at the 2nd VBBT.  Volunteer Dermatologists Dr. Padman Menon, MD, Dr. Mathijs Brentjens, MD, and Dr. R. "Buck" Henry, MD, AGAIN staffed the screening booth throughout the whole event. Our thanks to them for providing such a valuable service. Many participants took advantage of the service.

Screening Booth at Southside Marina                                 Dr. Henry, a Participant, and Dr. Acostamadiedo

Dr. Padman Menon, MD                                                                                                     The Hunter

Dr. Jose Acostamadiedo coordinated the activity and was also a participant in the fishing tournament aboard THE HUNTER, captained by Walt Spruill.

The angler weighs more than the fish!!

Catch Cancer Joins Forces with Outer Banks Hematology Oncology and Offers Screenings Throughout the year.

Nags Head, NC January 15, 2006

After finally establishing his practice full time on the Outer Banks Dr. Jose Acostamadiedo has been doing free skin cancer screenings at his office. "the great advantage of this new service is that if a patient requires a biopsy I can usually refer them to Outer Banks Surgery with whom we share the office space and the procedure can be performed immediately."

2005

Dr. Jose screens over 40 captains and mates at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.

Oregon Inlet, NC July 15, 2005

After an awesome day of fishing aboard the Carolinian catching a limit of dolphin a 51#tuna and 5 white marlin plus the bonus of a blue marlin Dr. A came back in and screened the captains and mates of Oregon inlet. More screenings planned for this area in the next few weeks , just keep posted.

Erik Vandebogart, master wood carver donates custom carving to Catch Cancer Before It's Too Late.

Elizabeth City NC, July 19, 2004.

Erik Vandebogart, a melanoma survivor and master wood carver has donated the second billfish he is ever carved. The first billfish he ever carved was a similar sailfish which sits in my office in Elizabeth City. Last year I suggested to Erik if he had ever ventured into the area of fish carvings. He stated that he had never done one but he could certainly try. Several months later he showed up at my office with a beautiful sailfish carving similar to the one pictured here. Erik and Eda live in Hertford, NC and he offers weekly carving classes at his home. His carvings have won numerous awards and his works has been featured in some local publications. Erik and Eda were volunteers last year during the Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament and plan to be there this year too! this year they have gone one step further and made this donation as well as a Christmas donation in the name of some of their friends to Catch Cancer. Erik stated to me we often make donations but never see the works they carry out, by volunteering at this activity I now know what my donations are getting used for and it is a worthy cause. Erik and Eda have been great resources for Catch Cancer... Before It's Too late during the screenings, being a melanoma survivor has allowed him to share his testimonial with those that at times hesitate to get screened. This first sailfish by Erik Vandebogart will be auctioned during the Pirates Cove tournament, it will be on display at the booth.

 

Hatteras Yachts sponsors free skin cancer screenings at the Hatteras Marlin Club Tournament.

Hatteras, NC, June 24-25, 2004.

"This is a great service" was the catch phrase by all the individuals who benefited from the free skin cancer screenings offered at the Hatteras Marlin Club Tournament. The setting was perfect for a successful screening campaign! Despite the stifling heat we managed to find some shade and screened over sixty individuals of all ages. Several individuals praised the service offered thanks to a generous donation from Hatteras Yachts. The crew of the Hatterascal and some of its guests attended the screenings, and were very pleased. Personally I would rank this as one of the most successful screenings we have done. For it being the first time at this location, the reception was great, the support from the HMC staff was excellent and everybody had a good time. With the Help of April Morrissette a Biology Graduate who will be working as a field manager with the organization and Vaughan Robinson, a volunteer, we managed to  keep the flow steady and maximized the time spent doing the screenings. We are looking forward to the next screening at the Barta Boys and Girls Club Tournament in Beaufort, NC on July 24.

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2003
Dr. R. "Buck" Henry and Dr. Jose M. Acostamadiedo screen anglers in  the Bahamas.

Walkers Cay, Bahamas, April 2003.

For the first time, a tournament brings free skin cancer screenings to the Bahamas. What a perfect location to do skin cancer screenings. A main dock with one entrance! A booth set up just beside the entrance for four days, a small island three hours away from the mainland!  what can I say ... Just Ideal! That is exactly what the screenings at the Barta Blue Marlin Classic proved to be. The screening: day ratio demonstrates it clearly. If you get in people's face long enough and they can't help but too see you and can't or won't run away... then you will get their attention! But as much as I would like to credit the location where the screenings were performed this time, I have to give credit to the people who were at the event. Not much different than the population that is normally screened in the mainland, but perhaps a small sample of them. Perhaps the location really had something to do and also the exposure provided by the organization. Well if you know Tred Barta you know that "Bold" and "in your face" are understatements! but again that is what is sometimes needed to tackle a disease that can be so surreptitious yet devastating!

"You will run but you can't hide" this statement is particularly true for a disease like melanoma, I guess there are a lot of individuals who have found this the hard way and they are not around anymore to tell you their testimonial! Fortunately every day we make it less easy to run away by coming to places where you are not eager to run away from (needles to say Walker Cay is well known for its large population of sharks that love to linger around the marina), so again Location is important but awareness is the most important virtue of all and that is the mission of Catch Cancer...Before It's Too Late.

Special Thanks and Announcements

No sponsor whether it be big or small, no boat manufacturer or OEM is more important than any other, because at the Barta Blue Marlin Classic everybody is important, let's give special thanks to some new sponsors and former old Guards

Thank you, to my staff, "Olaf, Greg Duff, the last of the Vikings". Sue Vermillion from Hawaii, Ray Geminski, official BBMC Photographer, Tapani Isokankas, Danny O'Zatto, Anni and Ian Mitchell, and Walley, George Ruess

BARTA BLUE MARLIN CLASSIC

"BOARD OF GOVERNORS"

Guy Harvey	Peter Rhein
Pam & Irby Basco	Terry Andrews
Dean Clarke	George Matthews

TRED'S PERSONAL SPONSOR'S

Mike Scruggs, Chris Wainscott, Dean Samuelson, Curt Jarson

GENMAR GROUP!

The Genmar Group - Hydrasports, Wellcraft, Aquasport

Rugged Shark Shoe's - President John Werman

Ray Marine - Marine Electronics

Mercury Marine - Dave Becker, The Power that Powers the Barta Family

I mention these Sponsors because Genmar, Rugged Shark, Mercury and Ray Marine support and spearhead all new projects; they are firmly behind me, Partners in Family Values, Partners for our Future!

Steve Moynihan - HMY Yachts, he's the man period. HMY has been with us every step of the way. It's a fact without HMY the BBMC would never have happened. A true friend, and a true supporter

Sam Crutchfield - A friend, truly a great man, and one hell of a Singer, Author and Entertainer. Thanks Sam

Jose Acostamadiedo - What a great job he did on detecting early skin cancer. Jose will be back next year. This year we screened 100 people and found 33 cases of early and late skin cancer. Great job, you can contact Jose at 252-330-4465, Website www.catchcancer.org.

Pete Rhein - A very dear friend and great man period. Pete single-handed run's the marina slip assignments. Not an easy job. Pete also, every year helps with the tough problems and tough decisions always keeping me on course, Thanks Pete.

Mike Joyce - New 10 year Gold Sponsors Hargrave Yachts, what a compassionate, Generous Great Guy, Thank you Mike. He'll be with us for the next 10 years.

Boat US - Richy Lydecker, Great to have you on board as a sponsor and supporter what a great company.

Fishing for Marlin and also for Melanoma, Catch Cancer… Before It’s Too Late  at Pirate’s Cove, Testimonials after three years… and counting!

                                                                                                                                                             Smarty marlin poses for a picture                                                                                                           with the Children at Pirates Cove.

By:    Jose Acostamadiedo, M.D.                                                                                                            Pirates Cove Big Game Tournaments Magazine 2003

Four years ago I realized that I had to do something      about a recurrent issue that came up almost every time I went fishing. I was actually feeling helpless when almost every time I went fishing and met anglers, captains and mates, I got asked what type of doctor I was. Once they found out I was an oncologist or studying to be one then   the following question was “hey doc could you check this spot for me?”  “do you think it might be cancer?” in some instances part of the conversation involved stories about friends of them who had neglected certain “spots” on their bodies only to find out too late that it was a melanoma that could have been cured with a simple biopsy. All I could do at that time was to tell these people to go and see a dermatologist and to pray they will never be my patients! "I love being a doctor, but being an oncologist sometimes can be very     emotionally draining, especially when you have to treat someone who is your own age, because that is when cancer hits you right in the face and tells you: “you are just as vulnerable!” It is very hard not to think that. I hate to  see a young person with metastatic melanoma and realize that if he or she had been checked by a Dermatologist the melanoma   would have been caught early!” If caught early the cure rate can be as high as 99% with a simple biopsy! “By the time they come to me as an oncologist you probably have to subtract about 80% to that number… perhaps more!”

Aside from loving my work and my patients, I also love fishing. That is why I started the Catch Cancer... Before It's Too Late  program. Now we provide free skin cancer screenings to anglers, captains and mates at billfish tournaments.

The Catch Cancer screening booth has become a familiar sight at the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament. thanks to the great support of our great tournament director Heather Maxwell and especially the public. It seems much easier to do the screenings today that what it was when we started. (flying tents, sand storms, tornado force winds, electrical storms, lost doctors, not enough screening forms and people who fill their forms and never show up by the booth) regardless of these “experiences” more individuals are getting familiar with the procedure, the awareness raised by the program and the effect it has already had on several individuals and their families continues to motivate me to organize this every year. I have received beautiful letters of support and testimonials of how “hearing about skin cancer from a fellow fisherman finally convinced a stubborn husband to pay attention to his wife’s ranting about checking those moles.” Also a legendary Pirates’ Cove Captain who charters a bright red boat and is a die hard Redskin fan is the main protagonist of my first year testimonial. Our dear friend procrastinated and “threatened” to come by the booth and get screened and to show me something in his arm throughout the whole week. This fixture of Pirate’s Cove marina finally approached me under a dock light at 11PM on the last day of the tournament after the dermatologists had left and said this to me: “ Doc, could you checkout this thing for me”, as he showed me his right forearm. He added, “a friend of mine was diagnosed with something called mel… uhhm, melanoma skin cancer, and she died shortly after. I have had this funny looking thing on my arm for years but lately it has gotten kind of ugly looking. Here hold my drink” he said “let me show it too you”. So there I am in front of the engine tent holding his drink and walking under the dock light to see this “thing” on his arm. After he showed me the ugly looking pigmented lesion, and all I could say to him was, “how did you wait all this time to have this checked! are you crazy?” He said “well my friend I was in contention and in the lead of the tournament with several whites caught during the first two days and I did not want to “jinx” myself by having a screening or something until the tournament was over, is it bad? Sorry doc, I can take my drink now”  he added. I thought of drinking “bottoms-up style” it  for one split second after I saw his skin but  I was too busy thinking how I was going to get this guy checked out. I got back to Winston-Salem where I used to live and tried to contact a local dermatologist in Norfolk, I finally got in contact with one and explained to him what I thought this guy had and if he could see him soon. Well it then took an act of God I guess a   (nor’easter qualifies as an act of God) and also a lot of harassment from Heather and his wife to finally get our Captain friend to not go fishing and go to Norfolk and see a dermatologist. Thank God the lesion was ruled as benign so he did not have to have surgery.

Catch Cancer…Before Its Too Late, Inc. has voluntary “operatives incognito amongst the crowd who  are spotting out moles that could be potential targets, frequently I get “Intel” tips from wives who will designate my target with their finger from a distance ( usually in the vicinity of the drink line). I have had to hunt down other individuals while they are ordering drinks and lured them to the tent and had a screening performed. This specific leads me to my next testimonial. Catch Cancer... before it's too late!

One gets ingenious on how to fish for melanomas out here in the Outer Banks, sometimes almost as ingenious as the actual fishermen, captains and mates who are likely to harbor the dreadful disease! Running a video of Blue Marlin stalking lures on a TV/VCR at the booth has accounted for some catches. What you are going to use as “bait” for anglers and captains in a billfish tournament?… Billfish! Yep! That is the best bait and teaser to lure people to come and get screened, during these events. Disguise is also another excellent technique, to capture skin cancers. Have you seen a seven-foot marlin with a hat glasses and a bottle of sun block walking around the docks? You can also see the steam that comes out of the costume if you look carefully. (boy that costume is Hot!)

Catch Cancer has also been present during the Pirate’s Cove annual fishing school for the last two years and we have been able to raise the awareness of skin cancer to a captive audience in this very nice late winter forum.

In July of 2002 “I couldn’t resist the call of the gulf stream.” Being   born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, In the Caribbean coast, I left Winston-Salem, and Wake Forest University where I was faculty prior to  coming to Elizabeth City, NC. Living closer to the coast has allowed me to manage and run the program more efficiently. At least  that was my excuse. The incidence of melanoma in the U.S. population  is one in 70 right now. Malignant melanoma is reaching   almost epidemic proportions, and its incidence is increasing faster over  than most other cancers over the last 10 years. Fishermen and people   who have chronic exposure to the sun, like captains and mates, are at    the most risk."

80% of lifetime damaging sun exposure occurs before age 18! The  main focus of the program is to raise the awareness of melanoma and skin cancer amongst the fishing community, and also to impact the overall  survival for high-risk individuals through early detection. 

The public has a misconstrued concept about skin cancer, and since it is generally treatable they tend to neglect their care, thereby neglecting the early diagnosis and possible treatment of malignant melanoma, which could save their lives. ( See above story)

During  2001 the first season Catch Cancer...Before It's Too Late focused  it’s efforts at the three largest tournaments of the Billfishing circuit in North Carolina. With the help of volunteer dermatologists and field managers from the American Cancer Society (ACS) we screened approximately 150 people. During 2002 another 150 people were screened bringing the total to over  300. The yield in terms of presumed diagnoses of cancerous and pre-cancerous skin lesions has been staggering, but most importantly the  concept of the program has reached thousands of people achieving its main purpose “raising awareness and educating high risk individuals about skin cancer.” The initial analysis of this effort showed that melanoma and the lesions that often serve as a precursor to melanoma are much more common in this high-risk group of individuals. Screening the whole population is not cost effective or feasible, but focusing on the fishing community has already paid off!

Catch Cancer …Before It’s Too Late, Inc. has put Billfishing at the same   level of the PGA tour, Major League Baseball and the US Soccer Foundation as sporting organizations that have official skin cancer screening programs. I thank Jim Simmons for all the support offered throughout these last years of growth of the WBS.

The implementation of this program would not have been possible without the collaboration of the ACS field managers and volunteers especially Mary Matheis, and Billie Haas, and, from the dermatologists who continue to volunteer during the screenings. We thank all our volunteer dermatologists: Dr. Christine Brentjens, MD from Edenton, NC, Dr. Renee Glover, MD from Wilson, NC Dr Reginald Buck Henry, MD from Norfolk Virginia, Dr. Earl Gross from Morehead City, NC, Dr. Christine Marcuson, MD from Williamsburg VA Dr. Padman Menom, MD from Norfolk VA and Dr. Keyvan Nuori ,MD from Miami Florida.

It's a lot of work but it is a labor of love. I just pray that God gives me the energy to continue with this, and I know He will continue to bless me as He always does." Stop by and get screened and buy a Blue marlin of Ghana Video, It benefits the program and it will make you a better billfisherman. See you under the tent, God bless you.

Greet Wouters and Double Header Charters - Azores Join the Battle Against Malignant Melanoma

Close to the Surface Web Site

Greet Wouters and Double Header Charters - Azores have joined Catch Cancer... Before It's Too Late in the battle against malignant melanoma. For every copy of "Close to the Surface. A pictorial history of 50 years of big game fishing in the Azores." sold through the Catch Cancer... Before It's Too Late™ web site, the sponsors have offered to donate a percentage of the proceeds. More...

Click on image to view larger version

Doctor Casts His Line into a Unique Field

By ZACK PALMER
Special Assignment Reporter
Elkin Tribune

Like most people who work long hours, Dr. Jose Acostamadiedo loves his job but enjoys time away to occasionally pursue other hobbies and interests. However, Acostamadiedo does not spend his leisure time on the golf course or coaching Little League. In fact, his hobby is a little out of the ordinary - he moonlights as a professional tournament angler. More...

Carey Chen/Cayman Arts Joins in the Fight Against Skin Cancer

PURCHASE "DORADO SUNRISE"

World reknown marine artist Carey Chen has offered to donate $100.00 of every "Dorado Sunrise" through the Catch
Cancer... Before It's Too Late website and Catch Cancer events. this beautiful print will be exhibited on site at every event
where the Catch Cancer Program holds skin cancer screenings.

"The piece will be framed in a beautiful cherry wood color with white mat and gold filet insert.All pieces are signed &
numbered.

For each piece sold at the retail price of $385.00, we will donate $100.00 to your charity." said Ivan Barenbaum,
Manager of Cayman Arts Inc.

Click the image to enlarge.

We thank Carey and his staff for such a generous contribution, this gorgeous print will be a beautiful addition to any room or office.

Jose M. Acostamadiedo, M.D.
Director
Catch Cancer... Before It's Too Late™
Catch Cancer... before it's too late! - WFUBMC

Gerard Aulong of Paris, France, has dedicated the best part of his life to the making of films about sport fishing. Although he has made films about many types of fishing, he has a particular appreciation of blue marlin and has striven to capture some of the best underwater shots ever of this species. More...

*Update from Gerald Aulong 8/31/01

PURCHASE VIDEO

Gerard Aulong, James Bridges Productions, has donated the exclusive rights of the video "Blue Marlin from Ghana" to the Catch Cancer ... Before It's Too Late™ Program, a skin cancer screening program sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the World Billfishing Series. More...

Click on image to view larger version

Editorial includes a wrap up of the 2000 Pirate’s Cove event series, a walk through some of the best fishing stories Oregon Inlet has to offer and a visit to the bonefish grounds of the Bahamas Out Islands. "We are very pleased to introduce Dr. Jose Acostamadiedo to our group of contributing writers." Says Maxwell "His style of writing is refreshing and funny. His article about tournament fishing will dredge up memories for the old timers and create some excitement for everyone." More...

Another labor of love, the 2001 edition of the Pirate’s Cove Big Game Tournament magazine is big, beautiful and packed with great articles, Oregon Inlet fishing history and the best of the best sponsors in the industry!

WBS Headquarters™The WBS is pleased to announce its partnership with the "Catch Cancer… Before It's Too Late™" program, an innovative, potentially life-saving, health strategy to be offered at select WBS events during 2001. More...

Keep an eye out for WBS angler Dr. Jose Acostamadiedo and his buddy "Marlin" at events in the USDC Mid-Atlantic division this summer. Dr. Acostamadiedo is the guiding force behind the "Catch Cancer... Before It's Too Late™" skin cancer screening program.

MOREHEAD CITY -- It never fails to create a laugh at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

Fishermen wearing sunglasses bring in a blue marlin. As they pose for the cameras, one of the photographers asks the members of the crew to take off their sunglasses.

The crowd always roars when they see the anglers' white eyes clashing with their heavily tanned skin. More...