The skin is the body's largest organ. It serves as a protective shield against heat, light, injury, and infection.
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Details about melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer.
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Once you're diagnosed with melanoma, you will need more tests. They can help show if the cancer has grown into nearby areas or spread to other parts of the body.
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Diagnosing skin cancer starts with checking out a bump, spot, or other mark on your skin.
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Melanoma can be treated in many ways. Which treatment may work best for you depends on a number of things.
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Make a list of questions and bring them to your appointments. These can cover how to decide on treatment, how to get ready for treatment, and how to cope during treatment.
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Chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat advanced melanomas. But it isn't used as often as it was in the past.
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Targeted therapy is the use of medicines that target the parts of cancer cells that make them unlike normal cells. Targeted medicines for melanoma work on genes and proteins in melanoma cells.
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Radiation therapy is not a common treatment for melanoma, but it can be helpful in some cases. It may be used on its own, or along with other types of treatment.
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Surgery is the most common way to treat melanoma. It might be the only treatment needed for early stage melanomas, and it's often part of the treatment for more advanced cancers.
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Your healthcare provider may suggest immunotherapy if you have advanced melanoma.
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You may have difficulty eating or lose your appetite during cancer treatment. Try eating small, frequent meals throughout the day. To improve your appetite, don't drink beverages with your meals.
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Fatigue can come and go or stay constant for a while. Fatigue from chemotherapy tends to happen a few days after the treatment, peaks, and then gets better before the next treatment. Fatigue from radiation may not happen right away.
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To reduce your risk for infection, avoid people who are sick with contagious illnesses, including colds, the flu, measles, or chickenpox.
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People often choose to wear wigs, scarves, or hats while or after losing their hair. If this is what you would like to do, pick them out ahead of time and start wearing them before your hair is completely gone.
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Detailed information on radiation therapy, one type of cancer treatment.
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Skin cancer can be treated with more success if it's found early. Read on for detailed information on doing your own skin self-exam.
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Knowing the risk factors for melanoma can help you make choices that might lower your risk. For example, sun exposure is a risk factor, and you can protect yourself from the sun.
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Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about melanoma.
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