Treating Melanoma

Early-stage melanoma can usually be treated with surgery alone.

The treatment for melanoma depends on three factors:
the age of the person
the general health of the person
the stage of the disease

Surgery is the first treatment for all stages of melanoma (IA through IV). The tumor is removed entirely, along with some surrounding tissue (usually about ¾ of an inch all around). The surgery may be done by a dermatologist or a surgeon, and it sometimes happens as part of the diagnosis process. In some cases, a skin graft may be needed to replace skin that has been removed.

If the melanoma has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, the affected lymph nodes may also be removed surgically.

Surgery is usually the only treatment needed for people with early-stage melanomas (thinner melanomas that have not spread to the lymph nodes). However, these people still need regular follow-up visits to the doctor, to make sure the melanoma has not come back and that other moles do not need biopsies.

Once a person has had melanoma, there is a higher chance of getting it again.

For later-stage melanomas (thick melanomas or those that have spread to the nearby lymph nodes), other treatments besides surgery may be needed. These are called "adjuvant" treatments, and they may take the form of:
immunotherapy
chemotherapy
radiation therapy

Melanoma that has spread to distant sites in the body, or to other organs (such as the lungs or liver) cannot be cured. In these cases, treatment usually focuses on relieving symptoms and keeping people as comfortable as possible.

People with advanced melanoma may be enrolled in clinical trials to try new and experimental treatments.

Glossary

Adjuvant Therapy: Treatment given in addition to the primary treatment to enhance the effectiveness of the primary treatment.
Biopsy: Removal of a small piece of tumor tissue for diagnosis by microscopic examination.
Chemotherapy: The treatment of cancer (or other disease) with chemicals that are toxic to the cancer cells.
Dermatologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems.
Immunotherapy: A form of therapy that stimulates the immune system to kill or control cancer cells. Also called biochemical therapy or biotherapy.
Lymph Nodes: Glands that produce lymph and that filter out harmful agents (such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells).
Melanoma: A highly malignant type of skin cancer that arises in melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment. Melanoma usually begins in a mole.
Moles: A cluster of melanocytes and surrounding supportive tissue that usually appears as a tan, brown, or flesh-colored spot on the skin. Also called a nevus.
Radiation Therapy: The treatment of cancer with high-energy X-rays. Also called radiotherapy.
Skin Graft: A surgical procedure in which a piece of skin is transplanted from one area to another.
Stage: The extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division. Tumors perform no useful body function. They may either be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).