Melanoma: A Patient’s Guide
Summary Of Treatment Options By Stage

The following table is a summary of treatment options for various stages of melanoma:

Stage 1

Surgical removal of the primary melanoma along with a safe margin of surrounding normal tissue. The size of the safe margin varies depending on the depth of the melanoma removed.

Stage 2

Surgical removal of the primary melanoma along with a safe margin of surrounding normal tissue and possible removal of those lymph nodes closest to the primary melanoma. Adjuvant interferon-a is sometimes recommended if the melanoma depth is >4mm.

Stage 3

Surgical removal of the primary melanoma along with a safe margin of surrounding normal tissue and removal of those lymph nodes closest to the primary melanoma. Adjuvant interferon-a is usually recommended. Some studies are ongoing, using vaccines or chemoimmunotherapy to learn if they prevent recurrence of the melanoma. In some circumstances, radiation therapy and/or isolated limb perfusion may be used.

Stage 4

Once the melanoma has spread to distant lymph nodes and/or body organs, the systemic therapies, chemotherapy, biologic therapy or both, are used. If the melanoma has spread to a single organ only, sometimes surgery or radiation is recommended as part of the treatment plan. This is an area where further investigations are under way to learn how best to treat metastatic disease.

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Melanoma - A Guide For Patients

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