The appropriate treatment depends on the stage of the melanoma and the individual situation.
Surgery
For melanoma confined to the skin, surgery is usually the primary treatment.
The doctor removes the melanoma and often an extra margin of healthy skin around it. This reduces the chance of melanoma cells remaining.
For early-stage melanoma, surgery is often sufficient.
When are other treatments needed?
If there is a higher chance of the melanoma returning, or if melanoma cells have been found outside the original site, other treatments may be discussed.
These may include:
Immunotherapy
This treatment helps the immune system better recognize and attack melanoma cells. Immunotherapy can be given to some people before or after surgery, or when the melanoma has spread further.
Targeted Therapy
For some melanomas, a change in the DNA is found, for example, in the BRAF gene. In such cases, medications that specifically target this change can be used.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can be used to treat melanoma cells in a specific area. For example, if surgery is not possible or to reduce symptoms caused by metastases.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is less commonly used for melanoma nowadays. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy are usually more important treatments. In some situations, chemotherapy may still be an option.
Which treatments are used at each stage?
For stages 0, I, and often II, surgery is usually the main treatment.
For some stage II melanomas and for stage III, an additional treatment, such as immunotherapy, may be discussed alongside surgery. In stage III, treatment can sometimes also be given before surgery.
In stage IV, immunotherapy and targeted therapy are often important treatments. Sometimes surgery or radiation therapy can also play a role, depending on where the melanoma is located and how many sites there are.
What is most important to know?
Therefore, there is no single standard treatment for every melanoma.
Doctors consider factors such as the stage, the melanoma’s location, any changes in the melanoma cells, and the person’s overall health.
Based on these factors, doctors determine which treatment is most appropriate for each individual situation.
Is anything in this explanation still unclear?
