How to Treat Melanoma
Melanoma in simple terms is a cancer of the skin. The first sign is usually a new mole, but old moles may also become cancerous. A doctor must determine if the mole or moles are cancerous. Though serious in nature, melanoma is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. If detected early, it has a recovery rate of over 90 percent.
- Check your skin regularly for new developments or irregularities. If you notice growth of new moles, change in the color or shape of an old mole, or appearance of strange lesions, consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor will schedule a skin biopsy to determine the nature and severity of your condition.
- Submit to an excision surgery if your doctor confirms skin cancer at levels 0-1. This involves a surgery under anesthesia to remove the cancerous cells. Additional tests and medications usually recommended at this stage to ensure the area remains cancer free.
- Consider a lymph node biopsy if the cancer shows signs of reaching stages 2-3. A lymph node biopsy entails testing lymph nodes close to the cancerous region to check is the cancer has spread or metastasized. This complicates treatment significantly and reduces chances of cure. Stronger medication helps to enhance your immune system and fight off cancer cells.
- Discuss the benefits of advanced treatments like radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Advanced melanoma at stage 4 spreads beyond the skin and lymph nodes to the brain, liver or bones. Post surgery, these treatments help kill cancer cells and check their spread through the body. Combined with strong vaccines, anti-cancer or biological medicines to strengthen the immune system, they can detect and fight cancer cells across your body.
- Keep all scheduled appointments with your doctor. Patients with a prior history of melanoma have a high risk of cancer recurrence. By keeping your appointments, you stand a better chance of catching a recurrence in its early stages.