Melanoma is a form of cancer that can originate in any part of the body that contains melanocytes. Melanocytes produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for skin color. These cells predominantly occur in skin (skin melanoma) but are also found in other parts of the body (in pigmented tissues), including the bowel and the eye (uveal melanoma).
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It develops in the skin cells that produce melanin, which is what gives the skin its color. The exact cause of this cancer is unknown but it is believed exposure to UV radiation is a major factor in development. For those who have received a diagnosis of melanoma, numerous effective treatments are available.
Treatment in the Early Stages of Melanoma The best type of treatment for melanoma depends on many factors, including the stage of cancer. In addition, your health the size, and the location of the disease all play a role in the treatment.
The following are the recommendations offered by the American Cancer Society.
In the early stages, treatment will include comprehensive treatment to remove and prevent the spread of the condition.
For early-stage melanoma care, surgery to remove the tumor is necessary.
If the melanoma is very thin, the process is done during the biopsy. For many people, there are no additional treatments needed at this point. During this surgery, the doctor will remove the cancer as well as a small amount of additional tissue from beneath the skin as a preventative care.
Treatment When Melanomas Spread
As the condition progresses, the melanoma is likely to move beyond the skin. If this happens, treatment options will address the specific location of the cancer. This may include any of the following treatments:
Surgical removal: In many cases, the condition will spread to the lymph nodes. If this has occurred, the doctor is likely to remove those affected lymph nodes. In some cases, you may need additional treatments both before and after this surgery.
Chemotherapy: In many situations, doctors recommend the use of chemotherapy before or after surgery. This treatment involves the use of medications that destroy the cancer cells. This is done in various forms including through an IV or in pill form.
Radiation: In some cases, doctors may recommend the use of radiation as a treatment for melanomas. In this type of care, your doctor will use a high-powered energy beam to destroy the cancer cells. If the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes, doctors may recommend radiation after your surgery.
Targeted therapy: It is possible to treat some types of melanoma with the use of targeted therapy. These are medications designed to destroy cancer cells.
Commonly Vemurafenib or dabrafenib are used as treatment options for more advanced forms of cancer. In addition, this type of treatment is only effective in the treatment of cancers that have a very specific genetic mutation.
Overall, treatment for melanoma will focus on surgery to remove any potential tumor or growth. It will include immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy and radiation.
Often doctors will discuss with you a combination of treatments. The goal is the same. It is to destroy cancer cells that are in the body to prevent them from spreading. This is one of the best ways to overcome this disease.
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