Melanoma : Treatment Options by Stage

by National Cancer Institute

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There are different types of treatment for patients with melanoma.

Different types of treatment are available for patients with melanoma. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials. Before starting treatment, patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment.

Stage 0 Melanoma

Treatment of stage 0 melanoma is usually surgery to remove the tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it.

Stage I Melanoma

Treatment of stage I melanoma may include the following:

• Surgery to remove the tumor and some of the normal tissue around it.
• A clinical trial of surgery to remove the tumor and some of the normal tissue around it, with or without lymph node mapping and selective lymphadenectomy.
• A clinical trial of new techniques to detect cancer cells in the lymph nodes.
• A clinical trial of lymphadenectomy with or without adjuvant therapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Stage II Melanoma

Treatment of stage II melanoma may include the following:

• Surgery to remove the tumor and some of the normal tissue around it, followed by removal of nearby lymph nodes.
• Lymph node mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy, followed by surgery to remove the tumor and some of the normal tissue around it. If cancer is found in the sentinel lymph node, a second surgical procedure can be performed to remove additional nearby lymph nodes.
• Surgery followed by high-dose biologic therapy.
• A clinical trial of adjuvant chemotherapy and/or biologic therapy, or immunotherapy.
• A clinical trial of new techniques to detect cancer cells in the lymph nodes.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Stage III Melanoma

Treatment of stage III melanoma may include the following:

• Surgery to remove the tumor and some of the normal tissue around it.
• Surgery to remove the tumor with skin grafting to cover the wound caused by surgery.
• Surgery followed by biologic therapy.
• A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemotherapy and/or biologic therapy.
• A clinical trial of biologic therapy.
• A clinical trial comparing surgery alone to surgery with biologic therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemoimmunotherapy or biologic therapy.
• A clinical trial of hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion using chemotherapy and biologic therapy.
• A clinical trial of biologic therapy and radiation therapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Stage IV Melanoma

Treatment of stage IV melanoma may include the following:

• Surgery or radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Chemotherapy and/or biologic therapy.
• A clinical trial of new chemotherapy and/or biologic therapy, or vaccine therapy.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• A clinical trial of surgery to remove all known cancer.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Treatment Options for Recurrent Melanoma

Treatment of recurrent melanoma may include the following:

• Surgery to remove the tumor.
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Palliative treatment with biologic therapy.
• Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion.
• A clinical trial of biologic therapy and/or chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

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