Prevention and Treatment of Malignant Melanoma

Prevention

• Sun damage is the most important environmental factor for preventing malignant melanoma. In particular, serious sunburns, or other extreme exposure to the sun is considered to be a serious risk factor later in life. Educating your children about the dangers of sun exposure is very important for this reason.
• Use sunscreens with broad spectrum protection, with an SPF of 15 or higher on a regular basis. Regularity of use is critical here. UV rays continuously damage the skin during regular exposure; damage is not confined to special occasions like beaching or hiking.
  Read: How to choose the right sunscreen and try the Sunscreen Selector
• Exercise, and eat healthy
• Stop smoking, and reduce your exposure to cigarettes via second hand smoke
• Reduce your alcohol intake, as excess alcohol consumption can weaken the immune system, which will put you at greater risk of developing cancer, and will also cause other harm.
• Remember that prevention is the best cure. All preventative steps will benefit you in many ways. Sun damage causes all sorts of other cosmetic problems related to premature aging, and living a healthier lifestyle will protect you from other types of ailments as well.
• Know if you are at high risk. Sun damage, family history, overall health, and Immunosuppression due to transplantation or medication, and previous history of any type of cancer, are all major risk factors. Fair skinned individuals are also at a higher risk due to the lack of protection from melanin. If you are at high risk, check with your dermatologist on a regular basis.
• Read the "ABCDE of melanoma" to identify melanomas in its earliest stages

Cure

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is used to control and treat cancers that have spread to other sites in the body. It is usually used to treat advanced melanoma.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, sometimes called biological therapy, is a treatment that aims to stimulate the immune system as a whole, or more specifically areas.

Surgical Excision

Surgical excision is the primary treatment for removing malignant melanoma. As malignant melanoma is a serious condition, a wide margin of healthy skin is removed around the lesion to ensure that all the malignant cells are removed.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is often used as a follow-up treatment after removing the melanoma lesion via surgical excision. Melanoma is a dangerous skin cancer, but it can be cured if caught early enough. Treatment decisions are based largely on the location and stage of the melanoma, and the patient's overall health.