Article newsfeed http://www.hvparent.com/ en-us Copyright 2008 The Professional Image. All Rights Reserved. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ For Deanna D'Auria, a mother of three from Pearl River, the decision was both personal and financial. "If I put my children's care in someone's hands then I know they deserve good pay and very often they don't get it. Very often, good providers do charge rates that we can't afford," she says, referring to herself and her husband. D'Auria's job as events and publications coordinator with Childcare Resources of Rockland, Inc., allows her to work at home full-time. Increasingly, the agency is seeing requests for daycare during "non-traditional hours," when daycare centers are not an option. Such requests include daycare for weekends, overnights and evening hours. D'Auria says that many of these requests come from parents working in hospitals or at retail jobs, but other inquiries are simply from parents working non-traditional hours. On a personal note, my husband Phil and I were able to delay daycare for our daughter until she was nearly nine months old by cashing in our "bank" of unused sick and vacation days from our jobs at the Bronx Zoo. Phil is a senior wild animal keeper in the Mammal Department. I worked in the Zoo's Public Relations Department. I was able to take six months of paid leave, which he supplemented with another ten weeks. When I returned to work, it was to a new job at a local animal hospital. By working four long shifts each week, from 3pm to midnight, my husband and I can reduce the time our daughter spends in daycare to just four hours a day, four days a week, since he continues to work conventional hours and can pick her up around dinnertime. The arrangement also reduces our daycare expenses. We're adjusting to my pay cut, although commuting and full-time day care expenses would have taken a deep cut into my old paycheck. Add to that the emotional toll of having our daughter in da care for ten-hour days and we're sure we're doing the right thing for us right now. Dreams of owning a house can wait.   Alison Reiser is a freelance writer based in Haverstraw. She and her husband have a one-year-old daughter. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=747 Family http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=747 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT For children who are returning to school, a successful transition to school lies not only in the establishment of the school routine or familiarizing your child with school day routines but also keeping what's learned from going unlearned! Once those books close in June don't keep them closed until September, or your child can lose valuable reading and math skills already mastered. This can mean the early months of school are a time spent catching up and not moving ahead. You don't have to sit your child down at a desk for hours to help him retain the skills he mastered last year. Rather, visit the library and take out books about summer adventures; visit historic sites or take trips to other states (let's hope gas doesn't reach $6 a gallon). You also can serve as a model for year-round learning by bringing a book to the pool or when relaxing in the yard and encouraging your child to do the same. Paul Schwartz, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Education at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. He is available for group speaking engagements. He can be reached at editor@excitingread.com. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=739 Ask Dr. Schwartz http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=739 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT The number one piece of safety equipment for riding is a helmet. Your riding stable should provide one is ASTM certified and fits your child snugly (not too tight, never loose) with a chinstrap. If you prefer that your child not share a helmet, find a local tack shop (a store that sells riding clothes and equipment) in your area and have them help you select one that fits properly. You can find helmets starting around $30. NEVER buy a used helmet because once they've taken an impact, they no longer provide protection, and there's no way to tell by visual inspection. Bike helmets are not suitable substitutes; the standard for their certification isn't the same as a riding helmet. Children should wear long pants that cover their ankles to prevent chafing and rubs from the saddle and stirrup leathers.  Proper footwear is important to prevent your child's foot from sliding through the stirrup or getting stuck in it. Sneakers are not a good choice; for riding, shoes should have a small heel. Work boots or hiking boots can work just as well as boots designed for riding.  In cooler weather, dress your child in layers and select a jacket that is short enough that they don't end up sitting on it. Mary Zak is a sales representative for Hudson Valley Parent, a sometime freelance writer, and a horseback riding trainer. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=730 Elementary School Middle School http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=730 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Before you and your preteen head to the stores to conquer back to school shopping, gather some information first. Middle and junior high schools without a uniform policy will still require a different dress code from elementary school. The tank tops and short shorts that your elementary school child wore are in violation of most secondary school dress codes. There will be other shoe, headgear, and clothes restrictions. Something that has changed in most schools since we were in school is that most middle and junior high schools do not provide lockers for their students to visit between classes. This may require students to carry all of their belongings with them all day. A good sturdy backpack may be needed for carrying textbooks and all other school supplies. If you're going to be investing in a new one, you may want to consider purchasing a pack with wheels. Parents may want to check with the school first to see if there are any requirements or recommendations at for that particular campus. For the first day of school, it is best to send your new sixth grader with just a notebook, a pencil and pen. Since your child will now most likely have several different teachers, it may be wise to wait to purchase specific school supplies until you learn what is required for each class. Make sure your child is prepared to take notes the first day of school. Students will have a lot to absorb the first week of school. As parents, be prepared to listen and ask questions about the transition. Louise Hajjar Diamond has been a guidance counselor since 1990 in Florida. She can be reached at www.counselorsclips.com. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=735 Middle School http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=735 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT 3 eye doctors just for kids Pediatric ophthalmologists in the Hudson Valley According to the American Academy of Pediatrics pediatric ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have done extensive study in pediatric ophthalmology and have the greatest expertise in diagnosing and treating children's eye disorders. In the Hudson Valley, these doctors are often hard to come by. Here are three listed by the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus: Jeffrey S. Leen, MD - 171 Ramapo Rd., Garnerville. 845-947-2265 Hugh L. Sauer, MD - Central New York Eye Center, 22 Green St., Poughkeepsie. 845-471-3720; 1073 Main St., Fishkill. 845-897-EYES; www.cnyec.com Phyllis E. Weingarten, MD - 4 Medical Park Dr., Pomona. 845-354-6225 or 845-354-6335   http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=726 Health http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=726 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT In 2007, the State of New York signed into law a statewide anaphylactic policy to manage the risk of dangerous allergic reactions when children with severe allergies are in school. In June the anaphylactic policy was forwarded to each local school board of education, charter school and board of cooperative educational services in the state. Each board will consider and take action in response to the policy. For more information on this policy, food allergies and anaphylactic shock, see the following resources: American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, www.aaaai.org The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, www.foodallergy.org State of New York, www.assembly.state.ny.us Epipen Center for Anaphylactic Support, www.epipen.com Mary Ann Ebner is a freelance writer. She and he family live in Orange County. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=721 Education Elementary School Health http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=721 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Intent on signing up for freebies and coupons for every baby product she could find to ease the financial burden, the Sullivan County mom eventually stumbled upon Johnson & Johnson's baby.com. There she discovered the forums, sites set up specifically for parents to post questions and comments that could be viewed and commented on by other parents. With separate sections for new moms, older moms, moms of twins, moms having a second child, moms of children with special needs and so on, Gagliardo found her place in the June Birthday Club. She found online what she couldn't at home - a network of other women having the same experiences at the same time. The birthday club brought together women whose due dates fell right around June 1, 2004, when Gagliardo expected the arrival of her son. "It was really just a support group," she recalls. "It was good to know other people were going through the same thing I was. They were worried about the same things I was." Using a national site, Gagliardo could draw on a pool of women from across the country who were weighing in on the first time they felt the baby kick or the first time their child slept through the night or ate from a spoon.  She was on a first-name basis with the moms who frequented that particular section of the forum, and even met one mom in person at a mall in Pennsylvania. But many more moms who spend time online say they never put a name to their posts - there's comfort in anonymity, as much comfort as they've found in having their questions answered. These men and women may never meet face-to-face, but are bonded by the mere fact that they're both parents. Talking with other moms right in the Hudson Valley is what drew Heather Flanagan to hudsonvalleymommies.com. The Highland mom is now the site administrator at the local online community, a branch of the national Mommies Network.  When she decided to stay home with son David rather than return to work, Flanagan went online to find other moms in a similar boat. There she found a stay-at-home moms group run by a mom from Poughkeepsie and started meeting her online friends in person. Unlike the national sites, HVM is kept private with Flanagan acting as a gatekeeper. As she jokes, it's "no boys allowed." It's also limited to moms in the Hudson Valley - and she checks. It creates a haven within an already welcoming community, a spot where women can chat without "feeling like 300 eyes are reading." The new Hudson Valley Parent forum community at hvparent.com, on the other hand, is open to Hudson Valley moms, dads, even grandparents who may have questions about everything from why the baby has diaper rash, to which Hudson Valley preschool is best, to finding local resources for a child with special needs. It's a place for local moms to connect and share advice with moms and others in their own communities. According to Flanagan, sometimes moms meet other moms and never come back to the site. That's OK, she says, because they got what they needed from HVM - new friends. Some moms will post on a consistent basis, but never make it to the playdates or the crafty moms meeting. Again, Flanagan says that's perfectly alright.  "You get out of the site what you put into the site," she says. "The ultimate point is to make friends for you or friends for your families.  "I know it's dorky, but I like to tell people, it's free and your new best friend might be just a click away," she adds. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=744 Babies and Toddlers http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=744 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT While some couples have the financial luxury of living on one income, others are able to maintain two-income households by speaking with their employers about how they want to work after their children are born. You may want to look for an employer that offers unconventional work hours that are flexible for your lifestyle and child care needs. Talk to friends about their ideas. Who knows, maybe you can create an at-home business of your own! Following are area agencies that can help you find the solution that works for your family, either with one or two incomes: Childcare Resources of Rockland, Inc., 235 North Main Street, Ste. 11, Spring Valley. 845-425-0009. childcarerockland.org Child Care Council of Orange County, Inc., 40 Matthews St., Ste. 103, Goshen. 845-294-4012. childcarecounciloc.org Child Care Council of Dutchess Inc., 70 Overocker Rd., Poughkeepsie. 845-473-4141. childcaredutchess.org Family of Woodstock, Inc., 39 John St., Kingston. 845-331-5197. familyofwoodstockinc.org Sullivan County Child Care Council, Inc., 7 Community Lane, Ferndale. 845-292-7166. scchildcare.com   http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=748 Family http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=748 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT   Hudson Valley Parent's new and better-than-ever website, hvparent.com, features forums where local moms can not only find answers, but where they can also get tips on the resources they're looking for in their area - including local schools, day cares, doctors, children's activities, and resources for special needs. The website also feature blogs from local moms and experts in the special needs field. Log on to hvparent.com and find the local resources you need! From HVParent.com:  You've discovered us, now tell a friend!  Use the "email this article" feature below.  Have a topic you'd like to see discussed on HVParent.com, email the webmaster at sfaso@excitingread.com http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=742 Family http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=742 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT   On the Internet you might come across some of the following acronyms. You can include these in messages to save time with typing! SAHM - Stay at home mom WAHM - Work at home mom WM - Working mom DD - Darling daughter DS - Darling son DH - Darling husband / hubby  (or darn husband) GM - Grandmother GF - Grandfather MIL - Mother-in-law FIL - Father-in-law SIL - Sister-in-law (or son-in- law) DIL - Daughter-in-law THX - Thanks TIA - Thanks in advance b/c - Because IMO - In my opinion BTW - By the way OTOH - On the other hand LOL - Laughing out loud FWIW - For what it's worth BTDT - Been there done that KWIM - Know what I mean? ROTF - Rolling on the floor  (laughing) GMTA - Great minds think alike   Courtesy of mamasource.com http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=741 Babies and Toddlers Family http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=741 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT If you're looking for shoes for your toddler or your teen (or any age in between), you'll find some great ideas here. Five Hudson Valley shoe stores have given us the low-down on what's new for kids.   Ethan by PediPeds Soft shoes for babies and children. Cady Lane has styles for boys and girls. For more suggestions call the owner, Heather. Price: $30 Sizes: 0-24 (infants/toddlers) Cady Lane Children's Boutique, 2600 South Rd., Ste. 42, Poughkeepsie. 845-632-2810.   Sprint Junior by Merrell Full grain or water- and stain-resistant pigskin leather uppers. Air Cushion® midsoles. Hudson Valley Footwear also sells sneakers and casual shoes, Keen brand shoes and Crocs for kids. Sizes: 4-9 (toddler) Cost: $29.95 Hudson Valley Footwear, 3 East Market St., Rhinebeck. 845-876-4881; www.hudsonvalleyshoes.com     Mary Jane by crocs Made with croslite™ material with slip-resistant and non-marking soles. Anti-microbial and odor resistant. Groo's also sells Stride-Rite, New Balance sneakers for kids. Price: $24.99 Sizes: $30 Groo's Shoes, Wallkill Town Center, 505 Schutt Rd. Ext. in Middletown. 845-343-5367; www.groosshoes.com   Newport by Keen Laminated leather upper, with elastic cord lace that lets kids put them on and take them off. Montano's also sells New Balance sneakers and Merrell shoes (a slip-on called 'mocs') for kids and Stride-Rite shoes for babies. Sizes: 8-13 (kids), 1-6 (youth) Montano's Shoe Store, 77 Partition St., Saugerties. 845-246-4381; montanosshoestore.com   Tuff-Mate by Willits Nubuck leather upper, with removable sock lining. Doff also sells Stride-Rite, Euro's and Beeko sneakers and shoes. Sizes: 3½-13 Doff Shoes, Poughkeepsie Plaza, Poughkeepsie. 845-471-2727. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=731 The Marketplace http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=731 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT As children head back to school, many of them will be investing time and energy into organized sports, such as football, cheerleading, basketball, volleyball and gymnastics. Participation in these activities is very important for building strong bones, but also increases the chance for an accident. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recommends that coaches and parents take precautions to protect children from sports-related injuries as they kick off the fall season. "Sports can be a great way for young people to get the exercise they need, while also developing social skills and having fun," says Michael Schafer, MD, orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and spokesperson for the Academy. "Because children's bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons are still growing, they are more susceptible to injury than adults. Parents and coaches should always be on alert to ensure that kids' sports involvement does not do more harm than good." The 2006 statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission underscore the extent of this problem: * Football is the leading cause of fall sports injuries in people age 18 and under - sending 976,566 of them to hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices and clinics. * Basketball is next on the list with 913,300 injuries to that same age group. * Other fall sports include volleyball with 92,509 injuries, gymnastics with 71,057, cheerleading with 66,216 and field hockey with 11,066. The Academy offers the following strategies for parents and coaches to help young athletes prevent fall sports injuries: * Have your child always warm up and stretch before exercising, particularly when the weather is cold. Athletes should warm up with some light exercise for at least 3 to 5 minutes, then slowly and gently stretch the muscles to be exercised, holding each stretch for at least 30 seconds. * Make sure a coach with the appropriate training heads your child's program. * It is important for your child to stay active during the summer, so that he is prepared to begin participating in fall sports. * Have kids take frequent water breaks to prevent dehydration and overheating. * Discourage dangerous tactics of play and risky techniques. Strictly enforce appropriate rules to minimize overuse of growing bones. * Never push a child beyond the point of safety, physically or emotionally. * Check to make sure equipment is adequately maintained and used properly. Protective equipment such as padding, headgear, mouth guards and cups, must fit properly and their use must be strictly enforced. * Learn to recognize early signs of pain and discomfort in children, and teach children to be aware of those signs as well. Let them know they should notify their coach or parent as soon as they experience any pain. * Require each child see a physician to undergo a pre-season physical. Youth sports should always be fun. A "win at all costs" attitude can lead to injuries, because a young athlete striving to meet the unrealistic expectations of others may ignore the warning signs of injury and continue to play with pain. Support from parents and coaches, whether young athletes win or lose, can be their greatest protection. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=444 Education Family Health Teens http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=444 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thoughts of pursuing a college degree are on the minds of many parents of many soon-to-be high school seniors. But many students don't know how to choose a college or even an area of study. Here are 10 tips to help students and parents take the stress out of senior year. 1. Assess your interests What type of outside the classroom activities do you like? What type of courses do you enjoy? What class activities or discussions motivate you? What have you enjoyed about past jobs or volunteer positions? What kind of careers appeal to you? Which don't? 2. Assess your abilities What are your personal strengths? What are your best subjects? What have past employers or teachers told you that you are good at? Have you been complimented by others on a particular skill? What types of class assignments did you excel at? What would your co-workers say is your best personal trait? 3. What do you value? Is it important to you that you make a difference by working with others? Do you want to lead or manage? Is it important to you that you work independently? Is creativity on the job a must for you? Do you value status (in the community, on the job etc.)? Do you value social good over material gain? Do you want to make an impact on society? 4. Explore your options Attend college fairs and collect school catalogs. Read about the course descriptions and explore the different organizations, clubs and volunteer activities. Talk to teachers and guidance counselors about majors and minors. Ask family and friends about a typical day at their work. Use the O*Net Online Resource center onetcenter.org which is offered by the U.S Department of Labor to identify occupations and assess skills. 5. Look for ways to develop your communication skills How can you grow in your ability to speak and write? What kinds of student organizations can help you develop your communication skills? Are internships at local companies available? Do courses offer you opportunities to research, give presentations and lead group discussions? 6. Look for ways to develop your leadership skills How can you develop your ability to lead a project or organization? Do courses offer you opportunities to work with others and manage tasks? What kinds of student leadership opportunities are available? Are there student organizations that you would be interested in joining and leading? 7. Look for ways to develop your teamwork skills Do courses offer opportunities to with others on assignments? Are their opportunities for you to volunteer with other students for community service? Are you interested in any of the student organizations, academic clubs, intramural opportunities or student government opportunities? 8. Look for ways to develop your technical skills After you graduate will you be able to demonstrate your ability to use software and new technology? Do internships offer you opportunities to develop your technical skills? Are their interesting courses that offer you the ability to develop your computer skills? 9. Look for ways to develop your interpersonal skills Will internships offer you an opportunity to work with others? Will community service offer you an opportunity to learn new cultures? Are courses available that teach conflict resolution skills? Are you interested in study abroad? 10. Narrow your options Cross out schools that do not give you both inside the classroom and outside the classroom opportunities to develop competencies in the areas of communication, leadership, teamwork, technical and interpersonal skills. Research the websites of the schools that you are interested in and evaluate the list of majors at schools you are interested in. Cross out majors that you are not interested in so that for each school you have a working list of potential majors. Make sure you look at course descriptions, electives and internship requirements. Choose a school that has more that one area of study that you are interested in. Look for a school that has academic advisors or career counselors available to first year students to help them with self assessment and choosing a major. Suellen Lazarek is Assumption College's CALLS Program Coordinator (Career, Academic, and Life-time Learning Skills). Assumption is a liberal arts and professional studies college rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition based in Worcester, Mass. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=441 Education Family Teens http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=441 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT   By Michele Van Leeuwen   A March 2007 study titled "Lasting Consequences of the Summer Learning Gap," published by Johns Hopkins University researchers, affirms that summer learning loss continues to be a real issue, a problem first identified by William White more than 100 years ago. Nearly 40 subsequent studies support White's findings that, during summer break, children can lose months' worth of hard-won learning and skills. Also in 2007, Ohio State University statistician Paul von Hippel found that children gain weight up to three times faster during the summer months, putting on as many pounds in the three months of summer as they do during nine months at school. Researchers from Harvard to UCLA are showing that exercise is good for the body and the brain and can actually help kids get ready to learn. Studies have also shown that summer reading is particularly important to keep kids reading at or above grade level when they return to school. So get your kids out reading and running this summer. They'll be fitter in the fall, without breaking your bank account. And it works for adults, too. Remember those few extra pounds you want to take off and the book you've always wanted to read.? Here are some fun and educational summer activities for parents and children to do together - and on the cheap. Encourage your child to develop a hobby: photography, rock collecting, computers, or museum exploring. See how many words you and your child can write in five minutes that end in "ing." Score one point for four-letter words, three points for five-letter and six-letter words. Bake cookies with your child. Wrap them and take some to a neighbor. Take a nature walk to enjoy the season. Come home and have your child draw or write about what he/she experienced. Make a list of errands to run. Give the list to your child and let them decide the order in which to run the errands as well as the shortest and fastest way to get around town. Help your child decorate a "summer memory" box made up of items he/she collected that are reminders of fun things and anything learned during the summer. Encourage your child to keep a summer journal. Sit on the front porch. Take turns telling each other stories using things you can see: dogs, people walking, an old tree. Use five-minute limits and make sure the story has a beginning, middle, and an ending. Go on a penny hike. At each corner, flip a coin: tails go left; heads go right. Ask specific questions about your child's day: "What was the most fun?" "Did you learn anything new?" or "What do you want to remember about today?" Play the alphabet game. Recite letters as you go up and down stairs, do push-ups, or throw a ball or Frisbee. Set a time when you and your child sit down and read. During this time, ask your child questions about what they are reading. Have them predict outcomes or talk about characters. Take a summer walk around the neighborhood. Point out environmental print like street names, storefronts, and billboards. Your surroundings can always be used to practice reading and letter recognition. Write words on index cards and put them in a paper bag. Have your child draw a word out of the bag, one at a time. Have your child say the world. When he or she has several words out of the bag, see if he or she can make a sentence with the words.   Michele Van Leeuwen, a Salt Lake City mom, created Summer Bridge Activities to give parents the tools and motivation they need to help children throughout the summer months. http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=714 Education Family http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=714 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT 5 safe sun tips for summer   A significant amount of sun-related skin damage happens from ages 6-18. Even when wearing a t-shirt, children are often at serious risk of "accidental burn". For instance, a white t-shirt provides an SPF of about 5 - hardly the protection needed to prevent sun damage. Dr. Patty Agin of the Coppertone Solar Research Center has developed the following five safe sun tips that will keep campers protected with minimal intrusion in their fun-filled, Summer camp days: 1. Apply. Apply. Apply.  Because the sun may cause damage immediately, remind kids to apply sunscreen before heading outside, even if they will be under trees! They should reapply every 80 minutes - even if the sunscreen is waterproof and sweatproof. 2. High SPF.  Coppertone released SPF 70+ Ultra Guard and Sport Continuous Sprays this year - Clear, no-rub sprays that quickly cover the body at any angle for fast protection. Sprays allow for quick reapplication in less than 1 minute. Perfect for kids to spritz on themselves without getting hands greasy! 3. Follow the shadow rule. If a kids' shadow is shorter than they are, the sun's rays are at their strongest. Cover them up with sun protective clothing, such as a hat and sunglasses and keep them in the shade during mid-day heat whenever possible! 4. Just for kids! Coppertone created specialty formulated Kids Lotion SPF 50, which comes in an easy to apply spray formula as well as a rub-in lotion, making application convenient for kids. 5. See a dermatologist once a year for a skin check - even kids can develop melanoma.  If detected early, melanoma can be treatable (survival rates for patients with early detection are about 99 percent but decrease depending on how far the melanoma has spread). http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=713 Health http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=713 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT