What should you know about non surgical melanoma treatment?

Melanoma care is planned after confirming the diagnosis and assessing how far disease has spread. Surgery such as [Surgical Excision](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/excisional-surgery/) is often used to remove a primary skin lesion, while non-surgical care can be important when disease needs whole-body treatment or cannot be managed by local removal alone. [Immunotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/immunotherapy/) helps the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. Treatment decisions are individual and may change as scans, examination, and response are reviewed.

Ask your oncology team what stage and tumour features are guiding the recommendation, whether lymph-node assessment such as [Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy](/treatments/diagnostics-and-staging/sentinel-lymph-node-biopsy/) is relevant, and what alternatives exist. Discuss previous illnesses, autoimmune conditions, medicines, pregnancy plans, and symptoms before treatment begins. Learn which side effects require a same-day call. Follow the agreed monitoring plan and keep appointments for blood tests, scans, and review. Reliable information about [Melanoma](/conditions/melanoma/) can help you prepare questions.

Contact your oncology team promptly for new or worsening breathlessness, persistent diarrhoea, severe rash, yellowing of the skin, unusual bleeding, confusion, or marked weakness during treatment. Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, seizure, or sudden neurological change. New symptoms do not prove that melanoma has spread, but they should be assessed without delay.

What is the treatment goal at my stage? Which side effects need urgent contact? How will response be checked, and how long should follow-up continue after treatment?