Treatment depends on how big and deep the lesion is.

Once doctors confirm melanoma, treatment depends on how big and deep the lesion is, what part of the body it's on, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. The process of determining this information is called staging. Although staging is a complicated procedure that involves both physical exams and lab tests, the basic premise is that the lower the stage, the better the prognosis.

Treatment for melanoma typically includes surgery to remove the lesion, and possibly radiation (high-energy X-rays that are directed at tumors) or chemotherapy (cancer-fighting drugs) if doctors suspect that cells may have traveled to other areas of the body.

Immunotherapy (also known as biologic therapy), in which doctors stimulate the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells, may also be used alongside these other treatments.