| Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and | | | | damage leading to skin cancer can be treated by |
| has been spreading like wild fire over the last decade. | | | | laser resurfacing, TCA peels or the application of |
| It is curable, but for melanoma treatment to be fully | | | | Efudex cream.In the early stages, surgery to remove |
| effective, early diagnosis is imperative. Melanoma | | | | the tumor and the adjacent healthy tissues is |
| treatment may take the form of surgery, | | | | effective enough to destroy the metastatic cancer |
| chemotherapy in early stages, and biological or | | | | cells. The amount of tissue removed depends upon |
| radiation therapies in extreme cases.Melanoma takes | | | | the spread of the cancerous growth.Surgical |
| on four forms. Both superficial spreading melanoma, | | | | melanoma remedy may also involve a skin graft to |
| the most common form accounting for 70% of all | | | | replenish the lost tissues. If the melanoma spreads to |
| melanoma cases and lentigo maligna begin as flat or | | | | the lymph nodes, surgery may also involve removal |
| elevated irregularly shaped tan, brown or black | | | | of these.Advanced melanoma treatment includes |
| patches.Both these forms of skin cancer begin as | | | | chemotherapy. This either involves the use of cancer |
| localized tumors, but left untreated, they penetrate | | | | drugs in capsule form or intravenous injections to kill |
| deeper and spread to other parts of the body. Acral | | | | the cancer cells.Biological and radiation therapies are |
| lentiginous melanoma is a superficial melanoma | | | | the last bastions of melanoma treatment. In the |
| common amongst Asians and | | | | former, laboratory-generated cancer-combating |
| African-Americans.Nodular melanoma is the most | | | | substances called biological response, modifiers |
| severe form, beginning as invasive cancer and when | | | | (BRMs) like tumor vaccines, interleukin-2, or |
| malignant, shows a lump. It accounts for 10-15% of | | | | interferon-alfa are administered to the melanoma |
| melanoma cases.Prevention is always better than | | | | patient.Radiation therapy involves the use of x-rays |
| cure. Melanoma can be prevented by reducing the | | | | to destroy cancer cells that have spread throughout |
| sun exposure, especially between 10am and 4pm | | | | the body. This form of melanoma treatment can last |
| with adequate clothing and sun blocks with a sun | | | | several sessions. Its side effects include topical |
| protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Children are | | | | redness, dryness and rashes, which disappear over |
| vulnerable to sunrays and it has been proved that | | | | time. However, changes in skin color and texture |
| juvenile sunburns greatly increase the risk of adult | | | | may occur after a few years.Melanoma treatment |
| melanoma.Melanoma remedy is most effective in the | | | | should be undergone only under strict medical |
| early stages. This means that you should be aware | | | | guidance to ensure complete remedy and prevent a |
| and alert about every symptom of the disease.You | | | | recurrence.David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 |
| should be especially concerned about your existing | | | | years experience in biochemical research and clynical |
| moles changing shape or color and of course, new | | | | analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and |
| ones appearing unexpectedly. Typical melanoma | | | | specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, |
| moles are lop-sided with irregular borders. Advanced | | | | and governmental interests and manufactures various |
| melanoma moles have swellings, oozing, itching or | | | | skin peels, cancer and acne treatments for doctors |
| bleeding.Melanoma remedy varies according to the | | | | offices and medispas. He can be reached at M.D. |
| progression of the disease. Actinic Keratoses or sun | | | | |