Melanoma is a severe type of skin cancer that usually develops in the tissues of the skin cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are responsible for producing the melanin pigment, which determines the color of the skin. Moreover, melanoma can also form in various other organs, such as the intestine and eyes, but such cases are rare.

Medical science is yet to define the exact cause of melanoma. It has been observed that regular exposure to ultraviolet radiations from various sources such as sunlight or tanning lamps can cause melanoma. Studies have also found that women under the age of 40 are at a higher risk of developing the disease; however, limiting the exposure to UV radiation helps in minimizing the risk.

Stages of melanoma
Based on the symptoms and severity, the stages of melanoma are spread across 0 to 4:

• Stage 0 : If cancer has affected only the outermost layer of the skin, the condition is known as melanoma in situ. This condition is referred to as stage 0.
• Stage 1 : If cancer has affected up to 2 mm of the thickness of the skin, the condition is referred to as stage 1. In this stage, the lymph nodes and other parts do not get ulcered.
• Stage 2 : In this stage of melanoma, cancer invades at least 1 mm of the skin’s thickness with ulceration and can go up to 4 mm without ulceration in certain cases. Based on the severity of the melanoma, the tissues may or may not get ulcered. Further, during stage 2, melanoma does not spread to the lymph nodes and the other sites.
• Stage 3 : In this stage, cancer caused by melanoma spreads to the nearby lymph nodes and the lymph channels. Plus, cancer can invade more than 4 mm of the skin’s thickness, and the skin will be ulcerated.
• Stage 4 : In stage 4, the melanoma spreads across various lymph nodes or organs such as the liver, brain, lungs, and so on.

To define the stages of melanoma, the thickness of the skin affected by cancer is carefully examined and determined with the help of tools such as micrometer and microscope.

Treatments for melanoma
Doctors usually work out the treatment plan of melanoma based on the thickness of the tumor. It also depends on the overall health of the patients.

If the melanoma is at an initial stage, doctors usually remove the affected tissues with the help of surgical procedures. The thin layers of melanoma can be removed completely during this method, and no further treatment is required.

In the advanced stages, doctors suggest a broader range of treatment procedures, which include the following:

• Surgery : If cancer caused by melanoma spreads to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, doctors usually opt for surgery to remove the affected lymph nodes. Further, additional treatments can also be prescribed post-surgery to prevent recurrence of cancer.
• Chemotherapy : In the advanced stages, doctors also recommend chemotherapy to destroy the cancer cells of melanoma.
• Radiation therapy : During the treatment of melanoma, doctors also recommend radiation therapy after surgery for the removal of the lymph nodes.
• Biological therapy : In certain cases, doctors recommend a biological therapy to treat melanoma. This procedure helps boost the immunization system of the patients, helping fight the symptoms. Biological therapies are usually adopted to treat conditions such as ipilimumab (Yervoy), interleukin-2, and pembrolizumab (Keytruda).

Melanoma can be treated effectively if diagnosed on time. Hence, being aware of the symptoms and going for regular checkups can help.