Melanoma Treatment: From Surgery to Immunotherapy

Published: Feb 09, 2024

Melanoma treatment has come a long way in recent years. From traditional surgery to cutting-edge immunotherapies, there are more options than ever for fighting this aggressive skin cancer.

Surgery: The First Line of Defense

For early-stage melanomas, surgery is often the primary treatment. The tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue are removed to ensure all cancer cells are gone. In some cases, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be performed to check if the cancer has spread.

Targeted Therapies: Precision Medicine

About half of melanomas have a mutation in the BRAF gene. For these cases, targeted therapies like BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors can be highly effective. These drugs specifically attack cancer cells with the mutation, often causing tumors to shrink dramatically.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops from the pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of these cells.

Immunotherapy: Unleashing the Immune System

Immunotherapy has revolutionized melanoma treatment. Drugs called checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. These treatments have led to long-term remissions in some patients with advanced melanoma.

Frequently Asked Questions

Early-stage melanoma can often be cured with surgery alone.

It varies, but some patients receive treatment for up to two years.

Yes, side effects vary by treatment type and can range from mild to severe.

Yes, which is why ongoing monitoring is crucial even after successful treatment.

Key Takeaways

With ongoing advances in melanoma treatment, the outlook for patients continues to improve.

Curious about the latest melanoma treatments? Discuss your options with Doctronic today.

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References

National Cancer Institute. Melanoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version. https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/patient/melanoma-treatment-pdq

Schadendorf D, et al. Melanoma. Lancet. 2018;392(10151):971-984.

Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.