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