Introduction
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It can be very difficult to treat, especially if you’re diagnosed with advanced melanoma. Your treatment options depend on where and how deep the melanoma has spread in your body and whether it’s likely to return after treatment. If you’re interested in learning more about the best treatments available for this disease, read on!
Surgery
Surgery is the
most common treatment for melanoma, and it’s also one of the most effective ways to treat a melanoma. In fact, surgery is considered the best treatment for early stage melanoma.
In some cases where surgery isn’t an option (like when a tumor has grown into deeper tissue), other procedures can be used instead:
Radiation
Radiation is a treatment for melanoma that uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used as the primary treatment for melanoma or in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy can be administered externally (from the outside) or internally (from within). External radiation therapy uses machines outside the body to direct high-energy rays at cancer cells and tissues. Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive material injected into your body in order to deliver the same effects as external radiation does, only from within your body cavity instead of using external devices.
Some types of cancers are treated with targeted radiation therapies, which are medicines designed specifically to target specific molecules found on cancer cells without harming normal cells in their path.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs travel through the bloodstream and are delivered to areas of the body with cancer. Adverse effects may include hair loss, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, infection and more.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a new treatment option for melanoma. It uses your own immune system to fight the cancer, which can be helpful in treating some cancers. Immunotherapy is not a cure, but it can extend life and improve quality of life.
Targeted therapies
Targeted therapies are drugs that target specific proteins, the building blocks of cells. They can be used in conjunction with other treatments and are often used to treat advanced melanoma.
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs): TKIs are typically used for patients with advanced melanomas that have not responded well to previous treatments or for those who have a genetic mutation called BRAF V600E mutation. These drugs work by stopping the growth of cancer cells by blocking a protein called tyrosine kinase, which controls cell growth and division.
Consult a dermatologist for the best treatment for melanoma.
You should not try to treat melanoma on your own. A dermatologist can help you decide which treatment is best for your situation and provide you with the proper support during the process. Your doctor may recommend some combination of surgery, radiation treatments, and/or chemotherapy to remove the cancerous cells.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you learn more about the different treatments for melanoma, as well as their pros and cons. The most important thing is to consult with a dermatologist to find out which treatment is right for you. If you feel like something on your skin might be cancerous or suspicious, don’t hesitate to see your doctor immediately!
