If you find out that you have early-stage melanoma, you are most likely alarmed. The good news is that you have treatment options available to you. Melanoma is a frightening condition, but the truth is that melanoma often does require very quick treatment in some cases. Some people only require one treatment session in sum. Regardless, you likely want to learn more about the treatment options available to you. Check out these melanoma cancer treatment options to learn more.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses medication to kill cancer cells. Typically, chemotherapy is administered orally or intravenously. It travels throughout the body and eliminates the dangerous cells. It can also be used in conjunction with different methods to ensure that it targets the area affected by melanoma first and foremost.

Radiation

Radiation therapy to treat melanoma uses beams of energy to kill cancerous cells. Many patients with melanoma undergo radiation therapy after they have cancerous cells or lymph nodes removed surgically. Radiation is useful if the cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the body, so many people with the condition actually benefit from these sessions.

Lymph Node Removal

One of the most effective techniques for removing melanoma is to remove the lymph nodes if the condition has spread. This kind of treatment is typically recommended alongside others to ensure the removal of the affected nodes. Recovering from surgery may involve the implementation of some other methods too.

Biological Therapy

Your immune system may require some extra help to fight off cancer, even if you are going through these additional treatments. Your treatment will consist of boosting your immune system, though you may still experience some symptoms of the treatment like fever and muscle aches.

Other Medication Therapies

Some medications are designed to directly target different cancer cells in the body. They can have some side effects, but they are also highly beneficial for eliminating some forms of cancer. Some drugs, like dabrafenib and trametinib, are specifically intended to treat advanced melanoma, but they must have a specific kind of mutation. Thus the number of people who use this therapy is somewhat limited based on the type of melanoma you have.

Melanoma is a serious issue, but simply because you have been diagnosed does not mean that you do not have options. Discuss these options with your doctor to determine the next best steps to ensure that you have a healthy life ahead of you.