Goal of Radiation Therapy for Melanoma

You can't see or feel radiation, but it kills cancer cells.

The goal of radiation treatment is to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors with high-energy X-rays. It may also relieve symptoms and prevent a recurrence.

Most radiation for melanoma is external. It comes from a machine outside the body. Radiation is not often used to treat the original melanoma. However, it may be used to treat melanoma that has returned.