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?

根据您的癌症和其他因素的阶段，您的治疗方案可能包括：

黑色素瘤的手术

手术是黑色素瘤的主要待遇，通常它可以在早期阶段治愈癌症。对于更先进的黑色素瘤，手术可以与其他疗法相结合。

• 广泛的救济：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:对于更具侵略性的黑色素瘤，您的外科医生可以进行微创手术方法，称为淋巴图和哨淋巴结活检。淋巴结在原发性肿瘤部位附近被除去并仔细检查癌症。这些“Sentinel”淋巴结最接近癌症，因此最有可能的黑色素瘤将传播。如果Sentinel淋巴结是无癌症的，那么不需要检查或去除其他淋巴结。如果Sentinel淋巴结含有黑色素瘤，您的医生将讨论进一步的手术和治疗。
• Regional lymph node metastasis:如果黑色素瘤蔓延到区域淋巴结，您的医生可能推荐淋巴结解剖（淋巴结切除术）。手术拆除了“隔间”或可能受癌症影响的淋巴结组或淋巴结组。该程序是在全身麻醉下进行的。放置排水管以促进恢复，需要几周。根据癌症的涂抹，也可能推荐放射治疗和/或免疫疗法。淋巴结解剖的可能副作用是淋巴米瘤，导致液体在臂或腿部池。
• 转移性黑色素瘤（第四阶段）：手术可用于治疗对身体远处部分的黑色素瘤。然而，转移的黑色素瘤非常不可能通过手术治愈。在这种情况下，手术是为了尝试控制癌症，但不能治愈它。

来自黑色素瘤手术的恢复

大多数伤口需要一到三周才能治愈。如果您有皮肤移植物，愈合可能需要更长时间。伤口周围的一些疼痛是正常的，采取过度的痛苦药物可以帮助。

黑色素瘤手术的共同副作用：感染，液体堆积，伤口愈合问题，麻木或刺痛，疼痛，血栓，瘢痕。

Immunotherapy for Melanoma

免疫疗法使用药物来刺激免疫系统和对抗黑色素瘤。它可以使用身体中的材料或实验室提高您的身体的自然防御，以改善，目标或恢复免疫系统功能。虽然免疫疗法可有效治疗黑色素瘤，但有可能的副作用。

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

对黑色素瘤的有针对性的疗法

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.

黑色素瘤化疗

仅在免疫疗法和靶向治疗无效时使用的黑色素瘤化疗。化疗药物通过血液发作癌细胞。它最适用于先进的黑色素瘤，有时与其他治疗相结合。化疗确实具有副作用，并且在治疗完成后通常会消失。

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

黑色素瘤的放射治疗

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.

放射治疗的共同副作用：Skin irritation, redness, pain, fatigue

Clinical Trials for Melanoma

根据您的癌症，阶段和其他健康因素，您可能有资格参加临床试验。这些精心控制和高度监管的研究研究需要志愿者患者，以进展有希望的新处理技术。

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.

黑色素瘤治疗支持

Cancer and its treatments cause physical symptoms, as well as affect you emotionally. Our综合肿瘤学计划offers 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.

黑色素瘤生存得关注

Banner MD Anderson帮助黑素瘤幸存者在癌症后充实的生活。当患者对他们的癌症完全活跃治疗时，您将看到生存者护理团队。患者将获得个性化护理计划，称为生存保健计划。该计划总结了癌症的类型，治疗接受的治疗以及这些治疗中的任何潜在的晚期和长期副作用。生存团队将与其他癌症中心专家合作，以解决任何问题和疑虑。当黑素瘤团队感觉较低的复发风险时，患者可能从黑素瘤护理团队转变为所有年度后续的生存团队。

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.