Melanoma Treatments, Side Effects and Support

The multidisciplinary team at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center delivers the most advanced treatments to patients with melanoma. Medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, radiologists and pathologists all work together to develop an individualized melanoma treatment plan to meet your specific needs.

How Is Melanoma Treated?

Based on the stage of your cancer and other factors, your treatment options might include:

Surgery for Melanoma

Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma and usually it can cure the cancer in its early stages. For more advanced melanoma, surgery may be combined with other therapies.

• Wide excision:A common surgical procedure for melanoma is a wide excision. A surgeon carefully cuts out the melanoma and some normal skin around it. It’s usually done as an outpatient procedure. You may need stitches, or a skin graft and it can take a couple weeks to heal. The amount of scarring depends on the size of the incision. If you have a skin graft, take special care of the donor area until it heals as well.
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy:For more aggressive melanomas, your surgeon may do a minimally invasive surgical approach called lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Lymph nodes near the primary tumor site are removed and carefully checked for cancer. These “sentinel” lymph nodes are closest to the cancer, therefore the most likely places the melanoma would spread. If the sentinel lymph nodes are cancer free, then the other lymph nodes don’t need to be checked or removed. If the sentinel lymph nodes contain melanoma, your doctor will discuss further surgery and treatment.
• Regional lymph node metastasis:If melanoma has spread to regional lymph nodes, your doctor may recommend a lymph node dissection (lymphadenectomy). A “compartment” or group of lymph nodes likely affected by the cancer is surgically removed. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Drain tubes are placed to facilitate recovery, which takes several weeks. Depending on the cancer’s spread, radiation therapy and/or immunotherapy also may be recommended. A possible side effect of lymph node dissection is lymphedema, which causes fluid to pool in the arms or legs.
• Metastatic melanoma (stage IV):Surgery may be used to treat melanoma that has spread to distant parts of the body. However, melanoma that has metastasized is very unlikely to be cured by surgery. In these circumstances, surgery is done to try to control the cancer, but not cure it.

Recovery from Melanoma Surgery

Most wounds take one to three weeks to heal. If you have a skin graft, healing may take longer. Some soreness around the wound is normal and taking over-the-counter pain medicine can help.

Common side effects of melanoma surgery:Infection, fluid buildup, problems with wound healing, numbness or tingling, pain, blood clots, scarring.

Immunotherapy for Melanoma

免疫疗法使用药物来刺激你的免疫system and fight melanoma. It boosts your body’s natural defenses using materials made in your body or a lab to improve, target or restore immune system function. Although immunotherapy can be effective in treating melanoma, there are possible side effects.

Common side effects of immunotherapy:Skin reactions, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, weight changes.

Targeted Therapies for Melanoma

Targeted therapy uses drugs to target the cancer, blocking its growth and spread, while limiting damage to healthy cells. Types of targeted therapies for melanoma may include: B-RAF inhibitors, KIT inhibitors, MEK inhibitors and others. Targeted therapy usually has less severe side effects than other treatments.

Common side effects of targeted therapy:Rash, nausea, diarrhea, swelling, sensitivity to sunlight.

Chemotherapy for Melanoma

Chemotherapy for melanoma is only used when both immunotherapy and targeted therapy are not effective. Chemotherapy drugs attack cancer cells through the bloodstream. It’s most used in advanced melanoma and sometimes in conjunction with other treatments. Chemotherapy does have side effects, and these usually go away after treatment is finished.

Common side effects of chemotherapy:Fatigue, infection, nausea, vomiting, nail changes, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nerve damage, hair loss.

Radiation Therapy for Melanoma

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Melanoma treatment uses external-beam radiation therapy, which is given from outside the body and blocks non-cancer areas, decreasing side effects. Sometimes radiation therapy is used in combination with other treatments to reduce cancer size or prevent it from coming back. Radiation therapy side effects are generally mild, can be treated with over-the-counter medicines and go away after treatment is finished.

Common side effects of radiation therapy:Skin irritation, redness, pain, fatigue

Clinical Trials for Melanoma

Depending on your type of cancer, stage and other health factors, you may qualify to participate in a clinical trial. These carefully controlled and highly regulated research studies need volunteer patients in order to progress promising new treatment techniques.

Clinical trialsat Banner MD Anderson are conducted in accordance with the National Cancer Institute. Talk to your doctor about clinical trials currently available, eligibility and other guidelines.

Melanoma Treatment Support

Cancer and its treatments cause physical symptoms, as well as affect you emotionally. OurIntegrative Oncology Programoffers supportive services focused on improving how you feel during treatment and caring for the non-medical needs of you and your family. This often includes therapies such as massage, acupuncture and support groups.

Melanoma Survivorship Care

Banner MD Anderson helps melanoma survivors live life to the fullest after cancer. When patients complete active treatment for their cancer, you will be seen by the survivorship care team. Patients will be given a personalized care plan, called a survivorship care plan. This plan summarizes the type of cancer, the treatment received and any potential late and long-term side effects from those treatments. The survivorship team will work with other Cancer Center specialists to address any issues and concerns. Patients may transition from the melanoma care team to the survivorship team for all annual follow ups when the melanoma team feels that there is a low risk for recurrence.

Choosing the best treatment options for you is one of the most important decisions in your cancer journey and we’re here to help you through this process. We customize a treatment plan for every patient to make sure you receive the right care for your specific needs. We’re here for you every step of the way.