Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that largely develops due to long term, unsafe sun exposure. Although melanoma only accounts for a mere 1% of all skin cancers, the Skin Cancer Foundation reports over 87,000 new cases of melanoma annually. Sadly, roughly 9,800 individuals succumb to melanoma death each year.
Melanoma develops on the surface of the skin due to the abnormal growth of melanin cells, which are the same cells that naturally defend your skin from sun exposure. However, too much exposure to harmful UV rays can occur in pale skin, sunburn prone individuals, causing melanoma to develop and quickly spread to the lymph nodes.
Safeguarding your skin from harmful UV damage is important to prevent skin cancer, by doing the following:
- Wearing a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 or higher
- Reapplying sunscreen regularly, as needed
- Covering skin with loose, breathable clothing on high sun days
- Wearing sunglasses with UV protection
- Wearing a large brimmed hat on high sun days
- Avoiding use of tanning booths
- Seeking our regular shady breaks
- Using a beach umbrella
- Avoiding sun between the hours of 10am and 4pm on hot, summer days
- Conducting home mole scans after baths or showers
- Asking your doctor to perform a yearly skin check
- Bringing abnormal moles to the attention of a doctor or dermatologist
Melanoma is like any other cancer, early detection is the key to effective treatment and prevention of recurrent skin cancer. To treat melanoma skin cancer, treatments are as follows:
1. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy involves the prevention of cancer cell growth by using the body’s natural defences to stop further melanoma cell growth. Immunotherapy can usually only be administered to otherwise strong patients with healthy immune systems.
2. Surgery
Surgical removal of melanoma is usually performed with early stage skin cancer patients. Surgery aims to remove cancerous tumors and also usually removes a margin of surrounding tissues to prevent further cancer growth.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, or chemo, involves injecting a cancer patient with a combination of drugs that work to kill cancer cells that have spread. Chemo drugs are administered using an IV or taken orally.
4. Radiation therapy
Radiation cancer therapy directs high-energy rays onto cancerous cells. This focused therapy often effectively kills cancer tumors before they can spread to other areas of the body.
