Melanoma is a severe form of skin carcinoma where the melanocytes of the skin become abnormal, or cancerous. The melanocytes are responsible for the production of melanin pigment, or skin color pigment. Melanoma generally caused by natural or artificial exposure of UV radiation.

The main sign of skin cancer is changes in the skin (i.e., moles). This may result in an abnormal skin cell growth that has an altered pigmentation or existing mole changes. Overexposure to UV rays may cause genetic mutation leading to this abnormality. Although melanoma is a grave condition, treatment is possible depending on the cancer stage and progression.

Here are some common early stage melanoma treatment options:

1. Biopsy

In the early stage, abnormal moles or skin pigmentation is restricted to a single area. In this stage, the thin melanoma can be entirely removed through biopsy. The surgeon may sometimes remove the entire tissue layer lying around the unhealthy development of the skin. Successive skin layers can also be removed with the aid of surgery.

In the later stage, melanoma can spread to distant organs and tissues and may include the following treatment options:

1. Surgery

If the skin cancer spreads beyond the localized skin to the adjacent lymph nodes, surgery may be necessary to remove the melanoma along with the adjacent lymphatic node. This treatment may be accompanied by other treatment options (i.e., chemo or radiation) to thoroughly remove all cancer.

2. Radiation therapy

Radiotherapy employs high power beams or energy rays, like x-rays, to expose cancerous cells and kill them. Radiation is a preferred option after surgery to ensure the carcinoma does not reoccur.

3. Chemotherapy

Chemo is a method in which the actively multiplying cancerous cells are destroyed. It can be administered through injections or taken in the form of pills. When given intravenously, chemo is injected into the leg or arm through a processes called isolated perfusion, which restricts blood flow through the limbs to other body parts for a short duration. This is done so that the drugs travel directly to the melanoma site.

4. Biological therapy

Biological therapy targets cancer by boosting the immune cells, and positively prompting the immune system to fight the cancer. During this therapy, an immune substance is synthetically inserted to act like healthy immune cells.

5. Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy targets the particular vulnerability of cancer. This therapy is most effective when the cancer cells have undergone a particular genetic mutation due to sun damage so the vulnerable sites are protected from developing cancer.