Melanoma
Treatment
How is melanoma treated?
Treatment for melanoma depends on the stage of the cancer – whether it’s early stage, locally advanced or has spread (metastatic). Your doctor will explain the treatment plan that’s best for you, based on your test results and overall health.
Treatment may include:
The aim of surgery is to remove the melanoma and the surrounding area to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma and is often enough to cure early-stage cases.
Types of surgery include:
- Wide local excision surgery
- Skin grafts
- Skin flap
- Removing lymph nodes
Read more about melanoma surgery.
These treatments can help to target and destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing. Or they can help your body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.
Find out more about targeted therapies and immunotherapy for melanoma.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to control cancer. It may be used if targeted therapies and immunotherapy are not good options for you. Chemotherapy can be given to control advanced melanoma.
Read more about chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It is not often used to treat melanoma. It may be used if your brain or spinal cord is affected or to relieve pain.
Read more about radiotherapy.
In Ireland, melanoma is treated in specialist centres with experienced teams in skin cancer care.
Will I get side-effects?
The type of side-effects you get will depend on the type of treatment you have, the dose, the duration and your own general health. Your doctor or nurse will discuss any possible side-effects with you before your treatment.
Read more about coping with cancer side-effects.
Local recurrence
Occasionally, melanoma comes back close to the original melanoma site. This is called local recurrence. Surgery is the main treatment for a melanoma that comes back in the same area. Other treatments are laser therapy, radiotherapy or isolated limb perfusion (ILP). This is where chemotherapy is given directly into an affected limb.
For more information on treatments for recurrent melanoma, you can talk to a cancer nurse by calling our Support Line on 1800 700 200, emailing the nurses at supportline@irishcancer.ie or visiting a Daffodil Centre.
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