Melanoma is a malignant tumor that develops from melanocytes. The tumor most often affects the skin, less often - the retina, brain, mucous membranes. The most common degeneration of moles into melanoma (70% of patients).
This disease is the most aggressive of all malignant tumors, which instantly grows through several layers of the skin and spreads to other organs. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose melanoma as early as possible. If a mole (pigment spot) begins to grow rapidly, change shape or color, become inflamed - this is an occasion to immediately contact an oncologist. Pigmentless melanoma is also common.
The tumor can also affect the retina, with the symptoms expressed as follows: a drop in visual acuity, a change in eye color, an increase in size, the appearance of ulceration, bleeding, nodular formations. Eye melanoma occurs in 5–7% of all pigmented pathologies. Often when examining an organ, a small melanoma is mistaken for a pigment spot.
Melanoma - treatment of the disease
The methodology for combating the disease depends on its stage of development. If melanoma is diagnosed, treatment is prescribed as soon as possible.
Stage I. At this stage, the tumor does not extend beyond the epidermis and is treated with surgical excision.
Stage II. At this stage of the disease, along with the tumor, a certain amount of healthy skin is simultaneously removed. If the doctor suspected a lesion of the lymph nodes, a biopsy is performed. If the analysis is positive, all lymph nodes in the melanoma area are removed. Additional medication may be prescribed (alpha-interferon or other drugs).
Stage III. It is characterized by damage to the lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis. Surgical treatment of melanoma is performed with lymph node dissection. Interferon therapy can delay relapse. All foci of the disease are removed (if the patient is diagnosed with several melanomas). If it is impossible to use the surgical method, the introduction of BCG or the drug interleukin-2 into the focus of the vaccine is used. In the presence of melanoma on the limb, its isolated perfusion is performed. Also, radiation therapy is applied to the affected area, chemotherapy and immunotherapy methods are used.
Stage IV. Melanoma, the treatment of which is no longer limited to surgical methods, has metastasized to distant lymph nodes or organs. Complete cure at this stage is very difficult. With the help of the operation, it is possible to remove large foci of tumors. Radiation therapy, immunotherapy or chemotherapy are also prescribed.
Chemotherapy in patients with this stage of melanoma is ineffective and short-lived. Most often, dacarbazine and temozolomide are prescribed.
Immunotherapy involves the use of interferon, interleukin-2, ipilimumab and can extend the patient's life expectancy at this stage.
Some patients, even at this stage of the disease, may have a good susceptibility to treatment, which can increase life expectancy.
Alternative methods for melanoma
If melanoma is diagnosed, treatment may also include the use of traditional medicine (with prior consultation of the attending physician).
For example, in the treatment of this disease, the use of tinctures from aconite is effective. When treating this plant, one must not forget about its toxicity. Most often, the maximum dosage of this agent is individual and depends on the general well-being of the patient.
A very promising folk remedy for treating melanoma is recognized as products of processing birch bark, as well as various collections of plant herbs (for example, dioecious nettle, hyssop, angelica roots, coriander fruits). However, such remedies in no way replace a full-fledged treatment by an oncologist!