Radiation Treatment for Malignant Melanoma

Melanoma is skin cancer of the of the melanocytes. Melanocytes are the skin cells that produce pigmentation (skin coloration). While there is no exact known cause of melanoma, researchers believe melanocytes can become cancerous when the skin is exposed to natural or artificial ultraviolet radiation.

Signs

• Early signs of melanoma are usually asymptomatic (without symptoms). Most lesions that form melanomas begin looking like a normal, harmless mole on your skin. However, knowing the grades of moles may help you and your doctor catch melanoma in its earliest form.

What To Look For

• According to the Mayo Clinic, "looking for moles with irregular shapes, scalloped borders, and changes in color or size" can help you determine when to see a physician for a suspicious mole.

Treatments

• Treatment of melanomas typically consist of surgical removal of the cancerous tissue, followed by radiation and chemotherapy.

Radiation

• Radiation treatment for melanomas is typically used after surgical removal of the cancerous tissue, but is sometimes used before and after the surgery. Radiation therapy is used to kill cancerous cells.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy is generally used after surgical removal of the cancerous growth, and after a round of radiation. While radiation is used to kill cancer cells, chemotherapy is used to keep any remaining cells from spreading.