Side Effects of Treatment

Surgery

• The side effects of surgery for melanoma depend on:
• the size and location of the tumor
• the extent of the operation

As with any surgery, you may feel pain in the first few days after surgery, but this pain can be relieved with medicine. You may also feel tired or weak for a while.

Surgery for melanoma can leave visible scars. When a surgeon removes early-stage melanoma, the incision is usually small. The scar may be only 1-2 inches long and will eventually fade.

With thicker tumors, the surgeon will need to remove the tumor as well as some surrounding skin and muscle tissue. This may result in a large scar. Skin grafts may be required to cover large wounds and reduce scarring. Ask your surgeon about techniques that can be used to reduce scarring after surgery.

If melanoma has spread to lymph nodes near the tumor, the surgeon may have to remove these lymph nodes.

Removing lymph nodes can affect the flow of lymph in the arm or leg that had melanoma. Lymph may build up in the arm or leg and cause swelling. This condition is called lymphedema. Your doctor may recommend exercises to reduce the swelling.

Because lymph nodes are part of the body's immune system, removal of these nodes can sometimes increase the risk of infection. It is important to protect the arm or leg where you had surgery, to avoid cuts, scratches, and insect bites that may lead to infection.

Adjuvant Therapy

"Adjuvant therapy" means additional treatment that is sometimes necessary after surgery. The side effects of immunotherapy include flu-like symptoms (such as chills, fever, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). Patients may also get a skin rash. The side effects may sometimes be severe, but they usually go away once treatment is stopped.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also cause severe fatigue, hair loss, nausea, and vomiting.

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