10 Treatments for Melanoma

3. Radiation

Radiation therapy utilizes high-impact x-rays to combat the rapidly growing cancer cells, and the procedure is conducted by a health professional called a radiation oncologist. The most commonly used type of radiation therapy uses a large machine to send the rays, and it is called external-beam radiation therapy. However, radiation therapy can cause some severe side effects, including very irritated and inflamed skin, problems with the interior of the mouth, difficulty in swallowing and constant fatigue. Medications can be prescribed to lessen the effects of these symptoms, especially when radiation therapy is the treatment that makes the most sense for the patient.