Malignant Melanoma: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

skin cancer

Malignant Melanoma is one of the most serious forms of skin cancer as it spreads over your body. This is caused commonly due to the over exposure of the skin to the Sun. In this disease the pigment making cells (melanocytes) become cancerous. This cancer is rare with people with darker skin. This cancer can develop anywhere on the skin but there are certain areas that are prone to more than other regions. In females, legs are the most common area where they are likely to develop this cancer and other sites that can get affected are the neck and the face. There are four stages of this form of cancer and the severity increases with the stages as well. These cancers appears might appear on the trunk or the limbs of an individual and they spread slowly first and gradually spreads all over the skin. There are dark and brown patches in the affected areas which are results of over exposure of the sun over the years and if it is left untreated you might face skin irritation and burning and the patches will spread all over the body. The causes of this cancer are known to be due to the high freckle density of your skin which is harmed by the sun exposure. Some moles can also trigger this form of cancer. It is known that with aging you have a risk to develop this form of cancer.

The treatment begins with a series of tests that detect the severity of the cancer present. The treatment of skin cancer is similar to that of the treatment of other cancers. For the treatment of skin cancers, surgery is an efficient way to remove the cancer cells present in your skin. The process of surgery in this disease requires a system of lesion, where the affected tissue is removed and a biopsy is also required to enhance the treatment process. If the cancer is spread over a large area of your skin then you might require a procedure of skin grafting. The cancer now has penetrated in the lymph nodes of your skin and through the process of skin grafting these cancer cells are removed. Other forms of treatment involve chemotherapies and biological therapies where the drugs work along your immune system. Sometimes in rare cases, photodynamic therapies are used where a combination of light and drugs are applied to destroy the cancer cells. Sometimes to check the severity of the condition a process of biopsy can be done. The biopsy is a process where a certain portion of your skin is removed and then cross examined to decide the course of treatment that you require.

If you notice that you are having certain skin changes where you develop a new spot or a mole and change in color of your skin or a skin sore that fails to heal on its own then you should seek medical help. You might also notice various lumps and dark patches on your skin. If you face these symptoms then seek medical attention as you might have malignant melanoma.

Some skin conditions are a mere condition of suntans and black spots. Those who face minor skin problems, they are not eligible for this treatment. After various tests if the cancer cells are not present, then you are not eligible for this mode of treatment.

There are certain side effects to this course of treatment. If you are under chemotherapies then you might notice hair loss, fatigue and nausea. In rare cases, sometimes the cancer might spread after surgery. If you obtain skin grafting then the skin takes time to heal and leaves a certain amoutn of tenderness.

You should avoid sun burns as much as possible and wear clothes that protect you from the harmful rays of the Sun. Use medicinal sunscreen lotions to be on the safe side and constantly keep an eye out for new patches that might develop on your skin. If it does, then get in touch with your medical expert immediately as it might spread all over your body. If you had a skin graft then you should avoid washing yourself for a couple of days as your new skin is sensitive at this stage.

After surgeries, medications and therapies within six to nine months you will notice favorable changes and the patches start to fade away. However, you should avoid direct sun exposure to prevent yourself from developing the patches again. If you notice that the patches are coming back then consult with your medical expert as soon as possible.

The treatment for this cancer might require surgeries which range from Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 75,000. Other therapies such as chemotherapies, radiation therapies range from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 55,000 depending on the services that your healthcare provider offers.

The results of the treatment are known to be favorable as cancer cannot be fully cured. You can eliminate all the symptoms with proper care of your skin and do not forget to avoid direct sun exposure.