What You Should Know About Melanoma Cancer
Melanoma, the most common form of skin cancer, has four stages
The first three are relatively fast-growing, but the fourth stage, called the advanced stage, is the last and most difficult stage of the cancer.
The four stages can be categorized as follows: stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV. As you move through the stages, the earlier it is detected, the better your chance of surviving.
The first two stages are the early stage, which can occur several years after exposure to radiation. These include skin cancers called superficial and basal cell carcinomas, and nonmelanoma skin cancers (other than melanoma).
In an advanced stage, this cancer spreads to other parts of the body. The fourth stage is called the advanced stage and is diagnosed when a lump forms on the chest, back, or neck. If cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it can spread to the brain and cause serious brain tumor. This type of melanoma cancer is the deadliest form and requires immediate treatment.
Several treatments are available for each stage of the disease. Some cancers respond well to surgery, while others require chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Surgery and radiation therapy are often used together.
Chemotherapy is usually given after surgery and after radiation. It is given intravenously in pill form to stop the growth of tumors and prevent further growth. Some drugs, such as carboplatin, are used to control or slow down tumor growth.
Surgery is sometimes recommended before other treatments. Sometimes this is only done if there is no great chance of successful chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The operation can remove all or only part of the tumor.
While there are many treatment options available, none will work for all. To avoid surgery and radiation therapy, many people choose to live with cancer rather than surgery and radiation therapy. This usually happens because they have little hope of removing the cancer. After being diagnosed with melanoma cancer, people should never self-medicate or try to treat themselves at home because of the potential side effects of certain medications and the likelihood of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
Radiation is effective in treating the early and the late stages of the cancer, but it will not cure the disease. It is usually used together with surgery or chemotherapy to remove the tumor and to control the spread of the cancer. Sometimes, this is combined with surgery or radiation in combination with more traditional therapy. Sometimes, it may be used alone.
Surgery is the most common type of treatment for this type of cancer, followed by radiation therapy. Radiation therapy involves using either external radiation like X-rays or internal radiation from a laser. If your doctor does not approve of the use of radiation in combination with surgery, he may recommend that you try another form of therapy, such as surgery alone. or with radiation and chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy is usually used in conjunction with surgery. One type of therapy includes a surgery known as a photodynamic therapy, or PAR. This treatment uses special laser beams to kill the cancer cells and control their growth.
Photodynamic therapy has been used to treat skin cancers for many years, but it is still in its research and development stage. It is currently approved for treating skin cancer in all regions of the body except the head and neck, where it is not yet approved for use. Photodynamic therapy works best in melanoma cancer. The lasers are used to target melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) in the affected area. The beams cause the melanocytes to malfunction and cease their production of melanin.
It is unknown if melanoma can be treated with chemotherapy, but it is considered to be a promising new treatment for patients who have only localized cancers. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the standard treatments for this type of cancer. Other forms of treatment include a surgical procedure known as excision.