Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin. The risk of melanoma has been increasing in people under 40. If one suspects that an existing mole or a pigmented or unusual-looking growth on the skin can be cancerous, schedule an appointment with a doctor for a physical examination and a biopsy.

Enlisted are diagnosing techniques and treatment options for melanoma.

Diagnoses

1. Biopsy for diagnosis
A sample of the skin lesion is removed for biopsy. Most often, the entire growth is removed. A punch biopsy or an excisional biopsy, where the healthy tissue around the mole is also taken, is done. The biopsy procedure will depend on one’s situation.

2. Diagnosing the stage of the melanoma
A pathologist will study the thickness of the melanoma, its presence or absence of ulcers, the mitotic rate, the presence of lymphocytes, and the presence or absence of markers. The type or subtype of melanoma is also determined. This study is essential to know the stage of melanoma. Thereafter, treatment is decided upon.

3. Diagnosis with ultrasound
An ultrasound scan is done if the cancer is suspected to be high-risk or at an advanced stage. Sound waves are used to get a picture of the internal organs like the lymph nodes and soft tissues for better diagnosis.

4. CT / PET/MRI scan for diagnosis
These are hi-tech scans that take three-dimensional images of the many organs and tissues in the body and give a clear picture of any tumor or abnormality. A CT scan can measure the size of the tumor and if it has spread. An MRI works using magnetic fields instead of X-rays to produce in-depth images of the internal organs and measure the tumor’s size. A special type of dye is injected into the vein before an MRI.

Treatments

1. Surgical treatment to remove the lymph nodes
The lymph nodes are removed surgically if the melanoma growth has spread to the adjacent lymph nodes. Additional treatments are added before or after the surgical procedure.

2. Immunotherapy treatment
Where melanoma cannot be removed with surgery, immunotherapy is suggested. Immunotherapy helps the body’s defense mechanism to fight cancer cells, which otherwise go undetected by the immune system. Immunotherapy treatments help the immune system identify the cancer cells and destroy them.

3. Radiation therapy treatment
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other radioactive particles to destroy cancer cells. The beams are given from a machine outside the body. Radiation is also used to prevent cancer from recurring after surgical removal of the cancerous growth.

4. Targeted therapy treatment
Targeted therapy medications target the specific genes and mutations of the cancer genes. It also targets the proteins and tissues that contribute to cancer growth and survival. Research focuses on developing new medicines that target biochemical pathways that help melanoma cells grow, thereby blocking their growth.

5. Treatment with chemotherapy
Medicines are used to destroy cancer cells. These prevent cancer cells from growing and dividing. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy have proved to be more popular as they are more effective than chemotherapy.