Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma Treatment - Melanoma treatment varies greatly according to tumor size and location, whether or not the cancer has metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body, and other factors. The primary treatment for melanoma is surgery to remove the tumor. Some examples of melanoma surgeries include local excision, wide local excision, lymphadenectomy, and sentinel lymph node biopsy. To cover the wound caused by surgery, skin grafting (taking skin from another part of the body) may also be done.

For early-stage melanoma, surgical excision of the mole is usually the primary form of treatment. If the cancer has spread beyond the lymph nodes, adjuvant treatments (such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy) may also be used to kill any cancer cells that are left. In addition, biotherapy/ immunotherapy, local hyperthermia, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) may also be used in melanoma treatment.

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