Melanoma is considered the most severe form of skin cancer, with more than 200,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed each year in the US. Melanoma occurs when the pigment-producing cells in various areas of the body produce color in the skin that ultimately becomes cancerous. The change of skin color or the appearance of discolored moles may be melanoma and requires a doctor's examination. Knowing the current treatment options available for melanoma is a way to ensure you choose the treatment that is best for you if you are affected by melanoma.
Most forms of melanoma are darker in color and have an irregular misshapen border. If there are new changes to existing moles that are out of the ordinary it is also recommended to seek the professional opinion of a doctor or specialist.
In some cases, radiation therapy is the best route for a patient diagnosed with melanoma, whether surgery is not an option or if the patient wishes to reduce the chance of the cancer spreading throughout the body.
Noticing a new growth on the skin or discoloration of the skin may be the first sign in diagnosing melanoma. Changes to an existing mole on the skin or a darkening growth anywhere can also signify melanoma.
Although for specialists, diagnosing melanoma may be as simple as looking at your skin, all patients require a biopsy of the affected skin to determine whether it is cancerous or not. Melanoma is diagnosed once the cancer is confirmed found.
Seeking advice from a dermatologist or a surgical, medical, or radiation oncologist is highly advisable if you are concerned with new moles or discolored skin. Melanoma can occur anywhere on the body, so it is important to note any new changes.
Although there are currently no medications available over-the-counter for the treatment of melanoma, immunotherapy solutions are on the rise to fight against melanoma regardless of which stage a patient is in.
Most surgeries involving the removal of the affected area with melanoma on the skin helps to cure the patient, especially if the area of skin has recently changed. Metastatic melanoma spread to the lungs and brain is less likely to be curable.
Chemotherapy is not used with all melanoma patients, and primarily helps those with advanced melanoma. Choosing targeted drugs such as Temozolomide, Dacarbazine , Paclitaxel, or immunotherapy options have become more popular in the treatment of advanced melanoma over chemotherapy.
Keeping melanoma from spreading is possible with continued radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and in some cases, chemotherapy. There are many creams, medications, and vaccines available to assist in continued treatment of melanoma after a cancerous mole or area of skin has been removed.