When it comes to early stage melanoma most thin, localized melanoma is cured by appropriate surgery. Usually the dermatologist will cut out the tumor and a small amount of surrounding non cancerous cells. Many times the site will be re-excised to make sure the melanoma has not spread into the surrounding cells. If melanoma is found in a finger or toe, the treatment is to amputate as much of that digit as possible. (1)

After the a patient has been diagnosed with melanoma the lymph nodes will be examined closely to see if the melanoma has spread to the lymphatic system. If they are abnormally hard or large, a therapeutic dissection may be performed to remove the lymph nodes in the area nearest the melanoma. (3)

Once there is evidence that the cancer has spread throughout the body more traditional approaches to treating cancer are used. Tumors are sometimes removed if this surgery may help the patients live longer. Traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also used to try and kill the cancer cells. New therapies are coming out that may be effective in treating later stage melanoma.

Immunotherapy is being used to enhance and encourage a patients immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells(2). Immunotherapy includes techniques to boost natural immune resistance to tumors with both vaccines and biologic response modifiers, primarily cytokines involved in immune responses. Melanoma vaccines do not prevent melanoma but boost immune responses to pre-existing tumors. Unlike traditional chemotherapy or biological response modifiers, the vaccines have few side effects and potentially a high degree of efficacy (6).

Many clinical trials are currently being conducted to find new treatments for advanced melanoma. One newer treatment is Interferon Alpha-2b. It has been shown to be very effective. In a recent test, patients with advanced melanoma that were given interferon Alpha-2b were 33% less likely to die of have a relapse than those treated with vaccines and more traditional methods (7).