Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer, accounting for the majority of skin cancer deaths in the country. This condition occurs when the melanocytes in the skin undergo mutation and turn cancerous. Symptoms of melanoma are often difficult to detect in the early stages, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Learning about the four different types of skin melanoma and their common treatment options can help one seek timely medical attention.

Types of Melanoma

• Superficial Spreading Melanoma:  This type of melanoma will have cells growing outward from the skin rather than inwards. Therefore, the patient is not at risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body. Mostly, middle-aged people are diagnosed with this type of melanoma. It occurs in the arms, legs, chest and back. It is one of the common types of melanoma.
• Nodular Melanoma:  This type of melanoma is one of fastest-growing cancer types. It grows deep down in the skin and at a much faster rate if it is not diagnosed at the right time. In this type, the melanoma symptoms will appear to be brownish red or black. Nodular melanoma occurs mostly on the parts of the body that are exposed to the sun.
• Lentigo maligna melanoma:  This type of melanoma is not commonly found in patients; hence cit is onsidered a rare condition. It is usually diagnosed among elderly patients. If you are exposed to the sun for a long period, you could be at risk for this type of melanoma. It is less serious than the other types of melanoma. The melanoma symptoms will be visible on the face or neck.
• Acral lentigineous melanoma:  This is a rare skin cancer that develops in the toenails, fingernails, palms or soles of the hands or feet, etc. Sun exposure is not often the triggering factor of this type of melanoma, and it is usually observed in people with a dark skin complexion.

Treatment for melanoma
Melanoma treatment depends on various factors, such as the stage, type, melanoma symptoms, and the patient’s general health. Surgical removal of the cancer cells, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy are some of the methods used to treat this condition. After a thorough diagnosis, a healthcare professional can advise regarding the right treatment method.

Surgery: This may be the only treatment needed for those with a small and thin melanoma. The doctor may remove the entire melanoma during the biopsy, or schedule a separate procedure to remove all the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. If the melanoma has begun to spread to the lymph nodes, they may also have to be surgically removed.

Radiation therapy: This treatment option uses the power of energy beams (from X-rays, protons, or other sources) to treat cancer. It may be used to manage the growth and spread of melanomas that cannot be removed by surgery alone.

Immunotherapy: This treatment uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer growth. It may be prescribed after surgery for cancer that has spread to or beyond the lymph nodes.

Targeted therapy: As the name suggests, this form of treatment targets and attacks specific chemicals in the cancer cells and blocks them. This causes cancer cells to die, slowing down the disease’s progress. It may be recommended if the cancer has metastasized beyond the lymph nodes.

Chemotherapy: For melanomas that do not respond to other forms of treatment, chemotherapy may be recommended to treat cancer.