Treatment and Prevention
If you spot melanoma and get it removed early, before it penetrates under the skin, your chance of a cure is close to 100%.
If the melanoma has spread horizontally (i.e., over the surface of the skin), the prognosis is still very good so long as it hasn't penetrated deep under the skin. There are different types of melanoma, but the type is less important to your prospects than the thickness and the degree of penetration.
The answer to melanoma treatment is early surgery to remove it. This can be quite simple and painless in the early stages, not much worse than removing a wart. If the cancer has spread across the skin, surgery might leave a mark. Even fairly deep melanoma is potentially quite curable if it hasn't affected other organs.
In addition to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or biological (immunotherapy) therapies may be recommended depending on the severity and degree of melanoma diagnosed.
Preventing melanoma is all about avoiding too much sun. Sunburns are worst, but even excessive tanning increases the risk of melanoma dramatically. You should always wear plenty of sunscreen (sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher) if out in the bright sunshine and reapply it as often as directed. If possible, stay out of the sun when the ultraviolet exposure is at its maximum (i.e., between 10 am and 4 pm). Another recommendation is to wear protective clothing. This includes wearing clothing that covers the arms and legs, and also wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Similarly, you should always wear sunglasses that provide protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Remember that UV light can also penetrate clouds so you should take precautions on cloudy days too. Everyone should avoid tanning beds as these also increase your risk of melanoma.
We also need to protect kids from the sun. Many kids develop a deep tan every summer and their parents assume that if they're not sunburned there's no problem. Children's skin is always more vulnerable, and these tans add up to a higher risk of skin cancer in later life.
To help detect melanoma early, everyone should perform regular self skin exams looking for any new or changed moles or skin lesions. If any suspicious areas are found, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible for further assessment.
Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Palm Beach Cancer Institute, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.