QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR
> Do you have a lot of experience treating melanoma? > Do I need more tests to determine my stage? > How will you determine if the melanoma has spread? > Should I get a second opinion? > There are a couple of FDA-approved treatments for Stage III melanoma — which do you recommend I start with? > What is “Plan B” if I have a recurrence?
> Where will my treatment be done? > Should I consider any clinical trials?
Treating Stage III Melanoma As the following are only brief descriptions of each treatment option, please visit the MRF’s website at www.melanoma.org for more detailed information. • Surgery Standard surgical treatment is removal of the primary melanoma and a small amount of normal skin around the lesion. Recommended margins range from 1-2 cm and are determined by the size of the primary melanoma. If your doctor cannot completely remove all of the primary melanoma, it is referred to as unresectable. In some cases, unresectable Stage III melanoma may be treated much like Stage IV melanoma. • Close observation Close observation after surgery may be recommended by your treatment team, especially if your recurrence risk is low. This type of approach may be the best option for you, or it may make you uncomfortable. Either way, it is important to discuss this option with your treatment team. • Immunotherapy Immunotherapy is a type of systemic treatment and attempts to activate a person’s immune system so that it will destroy melanoma cells. It is prescribed and administered by a medical oncologist. A couple of FDA-approved immunotherapies now exist for high-risk Stage III patients to consider as adjuvant therapies. • Targeted therapy Targeted therapy is a form of treatment designed to interfere with the specific proteins that are driving the growth and spread of the tumor. Because they are “targeted” to the tumor, these therapies may be more effective and associated with fewer side effects compared to some other therapies. A targeted therapy approach allows patients to receive a somewhat personalized treatment since the drugs are based on the unique genetic profile, or subtype, of their tumor. Learn more about testing for these treatments in the main section of this booklet. • Clinical trials Clinical trials offer access to drugs or combinations of drugs that are not yet approved by the FDA. Many experts believe these drugs offer great promise in lowering the risk of recurrence. As with any treatment decision, enrolling in a trial is a personal decision and many factors should be considered.
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