Is Melanoma Curable? Understanding Treatment Options and Survival Rates

We understand that receiving the diagnosis of skin cancer can be difficult, but learn that it can be treatable and that there are options available for your care. If you are being diagnosed with melanoma then this guide will lead you to the right path. Patience and better treatment options are all you need at this time.

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and is more likely to spread to other body parts compared to other skin cancers. It often develops in sun-exposed areas but can also occur in areas rarely exposed to the sun. If you have been diagnosed with melanoma, it is necessary to start treatment as early as possible for higher recovery rates.

Melanoma: What Treatment Options Are Available?

Melanoma can be highly curable if detected and treated early. With a 99% five-year survival rate, you can get effective treatment if caught before it spreads to lymph nodes. However, if it spreads, treatment will become more challenging, and survival rates will decrease. Understand the treatment options for melanoma.

Treatment Options For Melanoma

Melanoma treatment options depend on the stage and location of the tumour. It can include surgical procedures, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Take a look at these treatment options:

Surgical Procedure

Surgical procedures, including excision, lymph node removal and metastasectomy, can be done with professional care. Excision is done mainly in the early stages to remove the melanoma and a small surrounding area of healthy skin.

Lymph node removal is done if melanoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Whereas a metastasectomy is done if melanoma has spread to other organs. It is a procedure to remove any visible metastases.

Immunotherapy

It may include checkpoint inhibitors, interleukin-2, interferon-alpha, T-cell therapy and vaccines. These drugs help the body’s immune system recognise and attack cancer cells.

Interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha are other types of immunotherapy that can be used to treat melanoma. Some melanoma vaccines are being developed and tested in clinical trials. T-cell therapy involves collecting and modifying an individual’s T-cells to target cancer cells.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy includes BRAF and MEK inhibitors; these are the drugs that target specific genetic mutations that are common in some melanomas. These targeted therapies are medications that target abnormal molecules within melanoma cells that regulate their growth, aiming to slow down or stop their growth and spread without harming healthy tissue.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy may be used to treat melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body or when other treatments are not effective, also known as advanced melanoma.

Isolated limb perfusion/infusion is a high dose of chemotherapy delivered directly to the limb where melanoma is located, often used for melanoma that has spread to an arm or leg.

Your professional will first recommend a melanoma diagnosis if they detect any signs or symptoms leading to melanoma. They wil recommend the treatment option best for your condition or stage of the cancer.

Melanoma Survival Rates: All You Need To Know

Survival rates of melanoma depend on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis, with early-stage melanomas having a very high survival rate, while later stages have lower survival rates. Here is a detailed breakdown of survival rates of melanoma:

Survival Rates By Stage

• Stage 0: Melanoma cells are confined to the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin. The 5-year survival rate is 99-100%.

• Stage 1: Melanoma is confined to the skin, with a thickness of less than 1 mm. 5-year survival rate is 99%.

• Stage 2: Melanoma is confined to the skin, with a thickness greater than 1 mm. The survival rate is 85%.

• Stage 3: By the third stage, melanoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes. 5-year survival rate is 66%.

• Stage 4: By now, melanoma has spread to different parts of the body and the 5-year survival rate is 35%.

The earlier melanoma is detected and treated, the better the chances of survival, which is why it is always recommended to conduct self-examination and visit for regular checkups. Melanoma diagnosis at an early stage is necessary for better treatment planning.

Other factors that can affect the survival rates of melanoma are tumor thickness, stage, anatomic site and overall health of the individual. Age, genetic factors and family history of skin cancer can affect the survival rates of the melanoma. Individuals with lighter skin, blue or green eyes, blond or red hair, or a tendency to burn easily are at higher risk due to genetic factors.

Conduct physical examinations and self-tests regularly to check for signs and symptoms of melanoma. Visit for melanoma diagnosis as early as possible after detecting the signs.