Sep 8, 2021 · Melanoma is one of three main types of skin cancer. Melanoma clinical trials include: Cancer Drug Study for Melanoma: Studies a cancer drug used alone or with another cancer drug. If you have melanoma or are close to someone who does, knowing what to expect can help you cope. We work closely together to evaluate and treat patients with Feb 17, 2024 · Patients only need to receive the treatment once for it to work — and it can work for years, said Dr. By stage 4, the cancer has spread beyond the skin to other organs, such as the lungs or liver. Sometimes, it’s used as the primary treatment when surgery cannot remove the cancer. Melanoma is a type of cancer that begins in cells called melanocytes. The treatment, developed based on original research conducted at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, is comprised of two immunotherapy agents, relatlimab (anti-LAG-3) and nivolumab (anti Dec 16, 2023 · Melanoma pictures for self-examination. It protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Immunotherapy: Medication is used to help the patient’s immune system find and destroy cancer cells. If diagnosed in the early stages, melanoma has high survival rates, approximating 94%. Appearance of a lesion — Similar to other types of skin cancer, melanoma is diagnosed based upon the appearance of a skin lesion. Our clinical experts, members and patient representatives have come together to produce a new Melanoma Stages and Treatment – Patient Guide (MPG) to support you on all aspects of your journey as a melanoma patient. If you’ve been diagnosed, your treatment choices depend on the stage of the disease, the location of the tumor and your overall health. In-transit melanoma is stage 3 cancer that has spread more than 2 centimeters from the primary melanoma. Melanoma is almost always curable when you catch—and treat—it Melanoma Treatment Options. It stimulates a local immune response against skin cancer cells. These cells also make moles, or nevi. Different types of surgery can be used to treat basal cell cancers. The skin is the body’s largest organ. (See "Patient education: Melanoma treatment; advanced or metastatic melanoma (Beyond the Basics)". The neck and face are other common Skin cancer is the out-of-control growth of abnormal cells in the epidermis, the outermost skin layer, caused by unrepaired DNA damage that triggers mutations. While we do not have physicians on staff to provide consultations or treatment, we offer a list of educational resources and other information to assist you in your journey. Memorial Sloan Kettering has leading specialists from all areas of melanoma care. 434. Prevention is also important, particularly if you have fair Melanoma treatment options include excision immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, intralesional therapy, and palliative local therapy. If cancer is found, nearby lymph nodes may be removed and checked for cancer. Find out how surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, and other treatments can help lower the risk of recurrence and improve survival. Spread of pigment from the border of a spot into surrounding skin. Sep 13, 2021 · Surgery is the initial treatment in most cases, especially if the cancer has not spread. Get detailed information about the diagnosis and treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent melanoma in this summary for clinicians. As part of our commitment to melanoma research, we provide many clinical research trials that allow us to offer treatment options to high-risk patients or those that have melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery. Which treatment is best for you depends on the type, location and size of your cancer, as well as your preferences and ability to do follow-up visits. In 2023, nearly 187,000 Americans are expected Mar 11, 2015 · Surgery is the definitive treatment for early-stage melanoma. How it is given : Opdualag is a fixed-dose combination of nivolumab and relatlimab and is given intravenously as a single infusion over 30 minutes. Melanoma claims the lives of over 8,290 Americans every year. Curettage and electrodesiccation: This is a common treatment for small BCCs that are at low risk for coming back after treatment. Most melanomas present as skin cancer, since many melanocytes are found in the upper layer of the skin, called the epidermis. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. If you notice these warning signs and symptoms, or see anything NEW, CHANGING or UNUSUAL on your skin see a dermatologist promptly. [1] It typically occurs in the skin, but may rarely occur in the mouth, intestines, or eye ( uveal melanoma ). For early-stage melanoma, treatment most commonly consists of surgery. Hopkins was a leader in pioneering investigations of immune-based therapies involving PD-1 and LAG-3, proteins whose pathway can be blocked to restore the body’s ability to May 24, 2023 · Early treatment is essential. Metastasis is correlated with depth of dermal invasion. If caught early, 90% of melanomas can be cured Melanoma is less common than some other types of skin cancer, but it is more likely to grow and spread. [1] According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), from 2014 to 2018, the incidence of metastatic melanoma was estimated to be 0. Color changes. But it's important to know that melanoma treatment has come far. Melanocytes make melanin, the brownish pigment that gives skin its color. Secondary prevention is defined as detecting melanoma in its earliest stages through regular screenings. Border irregularity. What you should know: This is the most aggressive type of melanoma. 1 New recommendations were presented regarding neoadjuvant pembrolizumab for patients with resectable stage IIIB-IV cutaneous melanoma and adjuvant nivolumab or pembrolizumab for stage IIB-C disease and added adjuvant nivolumab plus ipilimumab as a potential option for stage IV disease. Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. To treat melanoma in the best possible way, it takes a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and At the Skin Cancer Foundation, our goal is to educate and empower patients, their families and caregivers. Learn more about melanoma. Our melanoma specialists use novel treatments to control the spread and minimize the risk Chemotherapy for Melanoma Skin Cancer. Surgery is the most common treatment for early-stage (Stage 0, I or II) melanoma. For patients with stage I and stage IA (≤1 mm thick, no ulceration, mitotic rate < 1/mm 2 with no adverse features) melanoma, treatment May 15, 2023 · Treatment depends on the type of skin cancer or other skin condition diagnosed: Basal cell carcinoma Enlarge Basal cell carcinoma. ) MELANOMA DIAGNOSIS. This may be used after surgery. Because surgery (aka surgical removal) tends to be the most effective way to do this, a patient who has melanoma will often have surgery. Your doctor can tell you if radiation therapy or chemotherapy will fit into your amelanotic melanoma treatment plan. 1. 9 out of 10 cases are considered to be preventable. S. For melanoma on the surface of the eye, treatment can include chemotherapy eye drops, surgery, freezing treatment, and radiation. It is intended for patients whose melanoma cannot be removed with surgery or 877-442-3324. These nonsurgical treatments include: Sep 5, 2023 · The primary treatment for early stage melanoma is surgery, and the surgery is very successful when doctors diagnose melanoma in the early stages. Melanoma accounts for only one percent of skin cancer cases but Call 800-525-2225. To diagnose melanoma doctors remove the abnormal area of skin and a small area of surrounding skin. Aug 14, 2023 · Systemic treatment for melanoma has changed rapidly since the introduction of ipilimumab in 2011. This guideline covers the assessment and management of melanoma (a type of skin cancer) in children, young people and adults. Melanoma skin cancer can often be treated. Apr 24, 2024 · For other types of cancer, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are key parts of treatment. Make an Appointment. Then an electric needle is used to sear the base of the cancer. A team of researchers at NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) have now genetically engineered patients’ own white blood cells to recognize and UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center offers the most advanced treatment available for all types and stages of malignant melanoma. Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of a handful of area centers—and the only one in the Bronx—offering High-Dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy for metastatic melanoma. Satellite melanoma is stage 3 cancer that has spread less than 2 centimeters from the primary tumor. For most melanomas, the first-line treatment is surgical removal. The American Academy of Dermatology advises watching skin spots for: Asymmetry. 924. Treatment selection can also depend on whether this is a first-time or a recurring basal cell carcinoma. Ryan Sullivan, the associate director of the Melanoma Program at Mass General Cancer Center While melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer, promising new treatment options are improving quality of life and increasing survival rates for patients with advanced melanoma. Metastatic disease requires systemic therapy but Jul 20, 2022 · Surgery for metastatic melanoma to remove melanoma tumors that have formed in the liver, lungs, brain or other organs Other treatments for melanoma include: Immunotherapy—immunotherapy drugs may be used as a first-line treatment for melanoma, either by themselves or in combination with treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery Melanoma Treatment. Redness or a new swelling beyond the border of the mole. Surgery is a common treatment option for a primary mucosal melanoma tumor. As a result of our comprehensive and urgent approach to melanoma treatment, our patients have survival rates significantly above the national average for cancer centers throughout the nation. The specialist care team looking after you will: You'll have regular check-ups during and after any treatments. The treatment is the same for both types. Which patients: Opdualag is approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older) who have Stage III melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery or Stage IV melanoma. Dec 30, 2023 · Mayo Clinic doctors have access to the latest in diagnostic methods and treatment innovations to improve care for people with melanoma. Use the online form. This supportive guide is for those who have been diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma – the most serious type of skin cancer, and It is a type of skin cancer that originates in the pigment-producing cells of the epidermis called melanocytes. Treatment becomes more challenging. To treat melanoma that has come back after initial treatment, or has spread to other parts of the body. You should talk to your ophthalmologist about how treatment may affect your vision. 6%. An estimated 62,190 new cases will be diagnosed in the U. Find out more about the different types of treatment and follow up. Up-to-date recordings on a variety of melanoma treatments can be found on Dec 1, 2023 · In 2023, ASCO published an update to its guideline on systemic therapy for patients with melanoma. Your care team will collaborate to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that offers the most advanced therapies and an array of supportive resources. These drugs can often be helpful for people whose melanoma has spread or can’t be removed completely. Current treatments for melanoma include surgery, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. There have been many advances in the treatment of melanoma over the last decade, especially with the advent of immunotherapy and targeted therapy treatments for both advanced melanoma and adjuvant treatment of melanoma. Another name for these cancers is cutaneous melanoma. Frequently occurring cancer in young adults ages 20-30. However, melanoma can also appear in other areas of the body, including the The other types of treatment for melanoma are: Lymphadenectomy: Surgery to remove lymph nodes. This treatment involves removing the top of the skin cancer with a scraping tool called a curet. Find out about the stages, risk factors, signs, diagnosis, and treatment options for melanoma. Learn about the different types, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Clinical practice within MM is far from standardized and this patient Learn about melanoma signs, diagnosis, causes, risk factors, and treatment options. UCLA Health experts offer nonsurgical and surgical skin cancer treatments. Immunotherapy has been a focus at MSK since the late 1890s, and we have been a part of every major immunotherapy advance throughout the history of cancer treatment. [2] Treatment is likely to be successful. What Is the Prognosis With Amelanotic Melanoma? Skin cancer treatments we offer. Jan 31, 2019 · What is the treatment for melanoma? Overview. Learn about the different treatment options for melanoma, such as surgery, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. In 2022, the American Cancer Society estimates that: About 99,780 Aug 11, 2023 · If the skin cancer is small, not deep into the skin, called superficial, and has a low risk of spreading, less-invasive treatment choices include: Curettage and electrodessication. Duke melanoma experts use the latest advances to diagnose and treat melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer. Immunotherapy generally is used in advanced melanoma when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Only 1 percent of skin cancers are melanomas; however, melanoma is responsible for the vast majority of skin cancer deaths. Vemurafenib (Zelboraf), dabrafenib (Tafinlar), and encorafenib (Braftovi) are drugs that target the BRAF protein directly. Sep 27, 2022 · Patients at the Johns Hopkins Melanoma/Skin Cancer Program have access to revolutionary clinical trials, as our researchers are constantly exploring new therapy targets. Stage 3 melanoma is also grouped into stages 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. Melanoma in situ (stage 0) Surgery is the main treatment. m. However, they’re only used in certain situations to treat melanoma. Oct 1, 2021 · Treatment. You can help make a difference by knowing and sharing the facts about melanoma. Shave excision: Shaving off the top layers of the skin Jun 3, 2024 · Moderna's new mRNA vaccine plus an approved cancer treatment are extending survival for people with advanced melanoma. It aims to reduce variation in practice and improve survival. The goal of radiation is to destroy cancer cells. Mucosal and ocular Melanoma is a type of cancer, most often of the skin. The treatment recommended for you will be based on your diagnosis and the stage of your melanoma and will be discussed with you by your healthcare provider. Mar 12, 2024 · Treatment by Stage. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with early-stage or advanced melanoma, our experts are ready to help with compassionate care and the most-advanced melanoma treatment options available. Radiotherapy, medicines and chemotherapy are also sometimes used. If you have an early melanoma, your dermatologist can often perform this surgery during an office visit. Interleukin 2. These mutations lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. They travel through the bloodstream to all parts of the body and attack cancer cells that have already spread beyond the skin. The best treatment for melanoma varies from person to person. Metastasis (muh-TAS-tuh-sis): The spread of cancer from where it started to other places in the body. This may be the only treatment you E is for Evolving. Call freephone 9 to 5 Monday to Friday or email us. A skin cancer lesion that looks reddish brown and slightly raised (left panel) and a skin cancer lesion that looks like an open sore with a pearly rim (right panel). Additional options may include FDA approved immunotherapies like ipilimumab and pembrolizumab, as well as clinical trials , which may include combinations of approved and not-yet approved therapies. Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. It accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all cases. Diagnosis is by biopsy. Although melanoma is a far less common skin cancer than squamous or basal cell carcinoma, it is much more likely to spread to other parts of the body. The Melanoma Research Alliance is the largest, non-profit funder of melanoma research worldwide. Our doctors recommend treatment based on the type and size of skin cancer, and if it has spread. This is a serious form of skin cancer . (Eastern time) Make an appointment. Surgery is the first treatment for most types of melanoma, especially melanoma Mar 13, 2024 · Skin cancer is the most common of all human cancers. 9333. Since 2007, we have directly funded over $131 million in innovative grants to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of melanoma. Click on a box below to learn more about PREVENTION and EARLY DETECTION The main treatment is: Surgery: The doctor removes the melanoma and a border of normal tissue. Find out how to make informed decisions, get support, and access resources from the American Cancer Society. The treatment you have will depend on: Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma. Jun 30, 2023 · Learn about melanoma, a rare and serious form of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. Learn about treatment including how it differs at each stage of the disease. The drugs are usually given though an IV into a vein or taken by mouth as a pill. At MD Anderson, treatment is tailored to the specific needs of each patient. It occurs in melanocytes – the cells that produce the pigment melanin that color the skin, hair and eyes. Melanoma prevention is best approached in two ways 4: Primary prevention is defined as reducing or limiting exposure to UV radiation to prevent melanoma from occurring. Feb 16, 2024 · The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a new cancer therapy that could one day transform the way a majority of aggressive and advanced tumors are treated. Rare types include sebaceous gland carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. A sore that doesn’t heal. Neither has reached lymph nodes. Understanding all of the melanoma treatment options will help you play an active role in your treatment and care. It MSK has a tradition of excellence in treating melanoma and developing new therapies. Options include: Jul 29, 2015 · Guidance. However, a person diagnosed with an aggressive type of melanoma or a late-stage melanoma may benefit from drug therapies, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy , or even a combination of Melanoma Treatment. Melanoma is the leading cause of cancer death in young women ages 25 – 30 and the second leading cause of cancer death in women ages 30-35. Nonsurgical skin cancer treatments. The main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma Jan 17, 2024 · Summary. Because the face is commonly exposed to UV radiation from the sun, it is a common site for skin cancer. In patients with solitary or acutely symptomatic brain metastases, surgical management or treatments such as gamma knife radiation may alleviate symptoms and provide local control of disease. Treatment by stage. [1] [2] In women, melanomas most commonly occur on the legs; while in men, on the back. Below are a variety of organizations, links and contacts to help you if your melanoma diagnosis becomes a financial burden on you Immunotherapy for Advanced Melanoma. Additional medicines in this class we may recommend in certain cases, include checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab (Yervoy), pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and Feb 17, 2024 · The incidence of primary cutaneous melanoma has increased steadily for several decades and remains the most lethal form of cutaneous neoplasm. Melanomas can start anywhere on the skin, but in people with lighter skin color they are more likely to start on the trunk (chest and back) in men and on the legs in women. If this happens, your treatment options will depend on where the cancer returns, the stage of your disease, and your original treatment, among Melanoma is a cancer that begins in melanocytes. Available Monday through Friday, 8 a. Treatment. With metastasis, prognosis is poor. Wide surgical excision is the rule for operable tumors. Melanomas Dec 15, 2023 · Summary. this year and approximately 7,910 people will die of the disease. to 6 p. Nivolumab + Relatlimab (Opdualag), an anti-PD-1 and May 14, 2020 · The melanoma treatment landscape is changing every day as researchers learn more about this disease in the lab and as more clinical trials enroll patients. Here you can find out all about melanoma, including risk factors, symptoms, how it is found, and how it is treated. Of the three most common types of skin cancer, melanoma is the most dangerous. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer; it develops from the melanin -producing cells known as melanocytes. Surgery for Melanoma . 1%. Anti-CTLA-4. Being diagnosed with melanoma can be overwhelming. There are several ways to give a tax-deductible gift to the MRF, including hosting a CommUNITY Fundraiser, donating in a loved one’s honor or memory, setting up workplace giving, and more! The MRF proudly earned a 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition from GuideStar May 9, 2024 · Conjunctival melanoma treatment. Some patients may require radiation therapy, too. Most melanomas start in the skin. They can also explain the options available to you to help with any vision loss. Dabrafenib can also be used (along with the MEK inhibitor trametinib; see below) after surgery in people with stage III Surgery. Treatment may include: Interferon-alpha. At UVA Health, you'll find a nationally recognized melanoma treatment program. REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in the cells that give skin its color. Food and Drug Administration has approved a novel therapy for patients with metastatic or inoperable melanoma, an aggressive type of skin cancer. Mayo Clinic's surgical pathologists and dermatopathologists are respected for their expertise in identifying melanoma stage, depth and severity, which is critical for selecting the most appropriate treatment Financial Assistance for Melanoma Patients Not only is it important to learn about all of the melanoma treatment options after a diagnosis, but you should also learn about all of the financial assistance resources available. During the procedure, a surgeon will completely Melanoma Treatment. It might need to be repeated to help make sure all of the cancer has been removed. Small skin cancers limited to the surface of the skin may not require treatment beyond an initial skin biopsy that removes the entire growth. When treating melanoma, doctors strive to remove all the cancer. Any change in size, shape, color or elevation of a spot on your skin, or any new symptom in it, such as bleeding, itching or crusting, may be a warning sign of melanoma. The specialists at the Center for Melanoma Oncology at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center focus exclusively on melanoma, with expertise in all aspects of melanoma skin cancers, including treatment and prevention, research, and clinical trials. These melanoma pictures can help show you what to look for. A specific and accurate form of lymph node sampling, sentinel node biopsy, is widely used in our center for tumors with risk for lymph node involvement. A primary excisional biopsy is usually performed to remove the growth as well as some Invest in the Melanoma Research Foundation. In some cases, chemotherapy may be combined with interleukin 2, interferon and/or T-cell therapy. Last updated: July 2022. While the advent of new immunotherapies has helped to reduce the mortality rate over the last decade, melanoma remains difficult to treat. Melanoma accounts for only about 4% of skin cancer cases, but it’s the most serious and aggressive type of skin cancer. Squamouscellskin cancer (SKWAY-mus): Cancer that starts in the flat cells on the outer surface of the skin. Melanoma Diagnosis Facts Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Your care team tailors your treatment plan for melanoma based on the type, size, location and stage of the tumor and other factors. Malignant melanoma arises from melanocytes in a pigmented area (eg, skin, mucous membranes, eyes, or central nervous system). The two companies are also testing the same combination in patients with Dec 6, 2022 · Your treatment options for skin cancer and the precancerous skin lesions known as actinic keratoses will vary, depending on the size, type, depth and location of the lesions. The goal of treatment for basal cell carcinoma is to remove the cancer completely. May 16, 2020 · In the United States, the estimated annual cost per patient for Stage I melanoma is $2169–$14,499, while the cost for Stage IV melanoma is $34,103–$152,244 [ 4 ]. Annual diagnoses: 70,000 in U. Mar 23, 2022 · The U. It may be used: After surgery to eliminate any cancer cells that may be left. You may then need a second operation to remove a larger area of healthy tissue around where the melanoma was. Doctors can treat many skin cancers without surgery. Other treatments may include: Aug 8, 2022 · A separate topic discusses the treatment of advanced and metastatic melanoma. But if it has spread to distant parts of the body (metastasized), the survival rates drop to around 35. Melanoma (MEH-luh-NOH-muh): Skin cancer that starts in melanocytes. These therapies may be used alone or in combination. The Melanoma Treatment Center includes specialists who treat many forms of melanoma. If melanoma is found and treatment begins when it is confined to the primary tumor on the skin, the five-year survival rate is excellent, at 99. 1 In the past decade, 12 new drugs have been approved for unresectable melanoma, along with four new approvals in the adjuvant setting and increasing research in neoadjuvant therapy. Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that stimulates the immune system to fight cancer anywhere in the body. A is for Asymmetry. We have also leveraged an additional $415 million in outside funds for research. This treatment may either be systemic, meaning that the drugs travel through the bloodstream, or local, injected into or near an accessible tumor. We have a lot more information for you. 9 per 100,000. We have created videos to help explain these treatments and information to explain other treatment options Feb 6, 2023 · Melanoma Facts & Stats Melanoma diagnoses are increasing at epidemic rates. A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. A dermatologist and oncologist may both be involved to provide a recommended treatment option based on the melanoma stage and other factors such as age and general health. Stage 0 in situ and IA{ref1}:. This is called a wide local excision. It's much more likely to spread than basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma to spread. Support Resources for Patients. Working together to choose the best combination of therapies to treat you Mar 28, 2023 · Melanoma. Unlike other cancers, most cutaneous melanomas can be seen on the skin, making it easier to detect in its early stages. Your treatment depends on where your melanoma is, how deep it is, whether it has spread anywhere else in your body and your general health. It often can be cured if found early. Jun 30, 2023 · Melanoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in melanocytes (cells that color the skin). Change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U. In July 2022, we made new and updated recommendations on genetic testing, staging, surgery for stages 0 to III melanoma, anticancer treatment for Learn about the different treatment options for melanoma skin cancer depending on the stage and location of the tumor. The three most common types (by order of frequency) are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. Nodular melanoma. Biochemotherapy. If your melanoma is located in an area that makes it hard to remove by surgery. How and where it grows: The tumor grows deeper into the skin more rapidly than other types and is most frequently found on the torso, legs and arms, as well as the scalp in older men. As the melanoma grows deeper into the skin, the stages get higher. We will design a treatment plan especially for you. Depending on your specific case, you might need more than one type of treatment. T Cell therapy. Vaccines. Melanoma is curable if caught early and treated effectively but can spread quickly to lymph nodes and other parts of the body. However, it can return after treatment, becoming . The treatment, called Feb 17, 2024 · The treatment, called Amtagvi, was developed by Iovance Biotherapeutics, a biotech company based in San Carlos, Calif. Change in the surface of a mole – scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump. For very early (stage 0) melanomas in sensitive areas on the face, some doctors may use imiquimod if surgery isn’t able to remove all of the tumor. A dermatologist can remove and treat melanoma. Sep 18, 2023 · Recurrent Melanoma. The Cutaneous Oncology Program at Moffitt Cancer Center offers the most current and effective procedures, including sentinel lymph node biopsies and lymphatic mapping. For more information about melanoma surgery at Moffitt, call 1-888-663-3488 or complete a new patient registration form online. In some cases, the doctor may remove the first lymph node that the cancer may have spread to. But melanoma can also be treated with a variety of other systemic therapies, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Someone with a very early-stage melanoma may require surgery alone to cure the disease. Melanoma treatment often starts with surgery to remove the cancer. Melanoma can sometimes come back. Imiquimod (Zyclara) is a topical drug that is put on the skin as a cream. Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs that kill cancer cells. Our areas of expertise include surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, rehabilitation, and quality-of-life issues. zb nj mz iy dh rl df ud da qn