Treatment for Melanoma

Almost all early-stage melanomas can be successfully treated, many with surgery alone. Melanoma can also spread beyond the original cancer site to the lymph nodes. When cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, it is also more likely to spread to other organs. Melanoma that has spread to the lymph nodes may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, which stimulates the body's immune response. Melanoma that has metastasized beyond the lymph nodes requires more aggressive treatment. Patients with metastatic melanoma are strongly encouraged to participate in clinical trials because current treatment is not very effective for most patients. For more information on clinical trials, see the usnews.com module on Clinical Trials.

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Prognosis for melanoma depends on the thickness and location of the cancer, the overall health of the patient, and whether the melanoma has spread to lymph nodes and/or nearby organs. If the cancer is less than about 4 millimeters thick and has not spread to the lymph nodes, it can usually be treated with surgery. However, if cancer is found in nearby lymph nodes, the affected nodes are removed along with the melanoma. This treatment may be followed by radiation or immunotherapy, or other treatments currently being studied in clinical trials.

This section contains more information on:

• Stages of melanoma
• Surgery for melanoma less than 1 mm thick
• Surgery for melanoma more than 1 mm thick
• Metastatic melanoma (stage IV)
• Immunotherapy