Melanoma is a very critical skin cancer that can grow and spread to several organs in the body. It starts in the melanocyte cells that produce melanin, a pigment that enables one’s skin to develop color. If detected in its early stages, the condition is curable. However, if it spreads to other body parts, the disease can be deadly. This article lists down the prevention methods, symptoms, and treatment options for melanoma.

Prevention
One can prevent or lower the risk of melanoma by taking the following precautions:

1. Avoid spending too much time in the sun
Activities in the sun can cause sunburn or expose a person to UV rays, which can harm the skin. One must schedule all their activities when the sun is not at its strongest, as prolonged exposure to sunlight can increase melanoma risk. Besides, one must wear sunglasses and a hat while stepping out in the sun.

2. Protect the skin
When stepping out in the sun, one should apply sunscreen generously. It must be reapplied every few hours if a person sweats or goes for a swim. One must also wear long-sleeved clothes or a hat when stepping out to beef up protection from the sun.

3. Avoid using tanning beds and lamps
Tanning exposes a person directly to the sun, which could increase the risk of melanoma. Therefore, one must avoid using tanning beds or lamps as they increase exposure to harmful UV rays.

4. Examine the skin regularly
People should examine their skin from time to time and look out for any marks, bumps, growths, or color changes. On finding something unusual, one must consult a dermatologist immediately.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms for melanoma include:

• An unusual pigment on the body
• Sores that don’t heal
• Moles that increase in size or change texture
• Spots or sores that itch or bleed

Treatments
There are different types of treatments to cure melanoma. Here are a few:

1. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a procedure in which drugs are used to kill cancerous cells. The drugs can be given orally or via a tube.

2. Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy kills the cancerous cells using powerful energy beams. It is generally used to treat melanoma in case surgery doesn’t help. It is used on the lymph nodes if the disease has spread and brings comfort and ease to the person suffering.

3. Surgery
Surgery is the best solution for melanoma. The surgeon removes the affected nodes from the patient’s body. If the situation has advanced, one may need to undergo additional procedures before or after the surgery.

4. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment involving drugs that helps boost the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. This therapy is often used after surgery if the melanoma hasn’t been removed completely.