Immediate Treatment
Skin cancer is the most common cancer and is easily treatable if the cancers are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. But melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer even though it appears painlessly from cells producing melanin, the pigment of the skin. Melanoma can appear on normal skin or it can arise after undergoing changes such as color or size on an existing mole, the Mayo Clinic explains. There may be itching, bleeding or swelling. Melanoma needs to be treated as soon as possible or it can spread down into other areas of the skin and into the lymph nodes or other areas of the body.
Spreading Cells
Surgery is usually performed to remove the cancerous tumor in cases of melanoma, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The simplest way, when the cancer is caught early, is to excise the melanoma and some surrounding tissue. A wider excision may have to be done along with removal of the lymph nodes. Sometimes the doctor may remove a lymph node near the tumor that is suspected of having cancer cells. If there are no cancer cells found, other lymph nodes may not have to be removed. Doctors do what they can to make sure that there are no signs that the cancer has spread. Skin grafting may be necessary on the wound if the incision for removal had to be large.
Therapies
Doctors may offer patients chemotherapy treatment following removal, even if no other cancer cells have been found, to be certain that any possible cancer cells are destroyed. Chemotherapy uses drugs that are taken orally or through injection. The medication enters the bloodstream to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Radiation therapy may also be used to kill the cancer cells. These treatments depend on the type and stage of the melanoma. People in the advanced stages of melanoma usually receive surgical removal of the tumor along with chemotherapy and interferon therapy, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There may be other therapies such as anticancer drugs that help boost the immune system and kill cancer cells. The decision for the various treatments is made by a team of doctors and the patient who is advised on the best techniques.
Experiment
If they choose to do so, patients with melanoma may participate in clinical trials for experimental treatment, the NCI explains. The people may receive standard treatment along with new treatment being tested out. Clinical trials are done to see which treatments may work for cancer patients in the future. Many of today's treatments were discovered through clinical trials.
Signs
Melanoma can be successfully treated if caught early. But it is important to watch for signs because it can be fatal. There may be a change to an existing mole or unusual looking growth on the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other signs include moles with irregular shapes or borders, growths with many colors, new moles larger than ¼ inch in diameter or moles that change in size and color.
