Cancer

Skin Cancer - Melanoma See All Overview See All Understanding Your Diagnosis See All Deciding on Treatment See All Managing Side Effects See All Prevention and Screening See All Cancer FAQs See All  Anatomy of the Skin in Overview The skin is the body's largest organ. It serves as a protective shield against heat, light, injury, and infection. ...more  Melanoma: Introduction in Overview Details about melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer....more  Melanoma: Tests After Diagnosis in Understanding Your Diagnosis 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. ...more  Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Diagnosis in Understanding Your Diagnosis Diagnosing skin cancer starts with checking out a bump, spot, or other mark on your skin. ...more  Melanoma: Treatment Introduction in Deciding on Treatment Melanoma can be treated in many ways. Which treatment may work best for you depends on a number of things. ...more  Melanoma: Treatment Questions in Deciding on Treatment 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. ...more  Melanoma: Chemotherapy in Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat advanced melanomas. But it isn't used as often as it was in the past. ...more  Melanoma: Targeted Therapy in Chemotherapy 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. ...more  Melanoma: Radiation Therapy in Radiation 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. ...more  Melanoma: Surgery in Surgery 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. ...more  Melanoma: Immunotherapy in Other Treatments Your doctor may suggest immunotherapy if you have advanced melanoma....more  Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Other Treatments Complementary medicine is used along with other therapies. It often serves to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Alternative medicine is used alone, without standard treatment. ...more  General Nutrition Guidelines During Cancer Treatment in Managing Side Effects 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. ...more  Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Managing Side Effects, Other Treatment Side Effects 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. ...more  Anemia and Chemotherapy in Chemotherapy Side Effects Chemotherapy can damage your body’s ability to make red blood cells, so body tissues don't get enough oxygen. This is a condition called anemia. People who have anemia may feel very weak or tired, dizzy, faint, or short of breath, or may feel that their hearts are beating very fast. ...more  Infection and Chemotherapy in Chemotherapy Side Effects To reduce your risk for infection, avoid people who are sick with contagious illnesses, including colds, the flu, measles, or chickenpox. ...more  Radiation Therapy and Cancer Treatment in Other Treatment Side Effects Detailed information on radiation therapy, one type of cancer treatment....more  Skin Self-Exam in Overview, Prevention and Screening 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. ...more  Melanoma: Risk Factors in Prevention and Screening 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. ...more  Melanoma: Overview in Cancer FAQs Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about melanoma. ...more