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cancer > Cancer Topics

Melanoma

Skin Cancer (Melanoma) · Skin Tumor (Melanoma) · Cancer of the Skin (Melanoma)

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 (that is, 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. If the cancer has invaded other tissues in the body (called metastasis), prompt treatment is vital.

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. Recent research suggests that the drug interferon* can help prevent recurrence of cancer after removal of early stage melanoma.

While radiation and chemotherapy don't generally cure advanced melanoma, they can ease symptoms.

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 sunscreen (SPF 15 or stronger) in bright sunshine. Remember that UV light can penetrate clouds. Above all, 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. Kids should wear t-shirts or long-sleeved shirts and hats on bright summer days. Any exposed skin should be protected with sunscreen. If possible, stay out of the sun when the ultraviolet exposure is at its maximum (i.e., between 11 AM and 2 PM).

 


*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.


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