Can melanoma without metastasis avoid chemotherapy?

Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
Updated on December 09, 2024
00:00
00:00

For patients with melanoma that has not metastasized, direct surgical removal can be performed, and chemotherapy is not necessary after surgery. Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates from melanocytes and can occur in many parts of the body, with melanomas of the skin and mucous membranes being the most common, accounting for about 70% of all cases. Once melanoma is diagnosed, if there is no distant metastasis to other organs, curative surgical removal can be performed. Postoperative treatment mainly involves immunotherapy, not systemic chemotherapy. For patients who are diagnosed with distant organ metastasis, systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy are required.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
41sec home-news-image

What are some good methods for treating widespread metastasis of melanoma?

Melanoma greatly torments patients, affecting their physical and mental health, and also unnecessarily harming their external appearance. However, treatment of this disease must be approached with caution. Surgical excision is recommended and is the first choice for the surgical treatment of melanoma. If diagnosed, surgery should be carried out promptly. The extent of excision depends on the type and location of the tumor. After excision, the resulting tissue defect is generally repaired using simple methods initially, followed by reconstructive surgery after confirming no recurrence.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
41sec home-news-image

Is there a possibility of curing melanoma with lymphatic metastasis?

Melanoma is a type of skin tumor caused by the excessive growth of melanin cells. For melanoma that has spread to the lymph nodes, surgical treatment is recommended, along with adjunctive radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which can effectively control the spread and metastasis of cancer cells. Traditional Chinese medicine can also be used in conjunction, which not only controls the growth of cancer cells but also mitigates the damage to the body from radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After treatment, patients should pay attention to their diet, exercise moderately, and maintain a good physical condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Da Wei
Dermatology
44sec home-news-image

Is melanoma flat or raised?

Melanoma generally is not flat, also known as malignant melanoma, which is a highly malignant cancer originating from melanocytes, commonly occurring in the skin. Men over the age of 60 are a high-risk group, with the most commonly affected areas being the lower limbs and feet, followed by the trunk, head and neck, or upper limbs. Symptoms mainly include rapidly growing melanotic nodules. Initially, normal skin becomes heavily pigmented, or pigmented moles darken and increase in pigment. The skin lesions continually enlarge and harden, accompanied by itching and pain. The lesions of melanoma may be raised, patchy, or nodular, and some may even resemble cauliflower.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
44sec home-news-image

Does melanoma need to be excised?

Melanoma is a type of malignant tumor, which mostly develops from common melanocytic nevi. Once diagnosed with this disease, surgical removal is necessary. After the surgery, a full-body examination is also required to check whether the tumor cells have metastasized. If there is metastasis, further radiotherapy or chemotherapy is needed. If melanocytic nevi appear on the body, it is crucial to handle them properly, ideally by using laser treatment or surgical removal when they are relatively small to prevent the later formation of melanoma. If the melanocytic nevi cause pain, itching, or oozing after scratching, it might be a precursor to malignancy, and formal treatment is necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
38sec home-news-image

Melanoma originates from which tissue?

Melanoma does not originate from any specific tissue, but from melanocytes. Therefore, melanoma can occur in any tissue where melanocytes are present. The most common sites for melanoma are the skin and mucous membranes. Additionally, because melanocytes are widely present throughout the body, melanoma can also occur in hollow organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, in skeletal muscles, and in the nervous system. Once diagnosed, melanoma needs to be treated promptly. The main treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.