When is immunotherapy recommended for melanoma?

Immunotherapy may be used after surgery to reduce the chance of melanoma returning, or to treat melanoma that cannot be removed completely or has spread. The oncology team bases the choice on staging, tumour features, previous treatment, symptoms, and general health.

These medicines help the immune system recognise and attack melanoma cells. They are given on a planned schedule, often through a vein, and the team monitors you during treatment. Immune activity can also affect healthy organs, causing inflammation in places such as the skin, bowel, lungs, liver, thyroid, or other glands.

Keep every oncology appointment and report new symptoms early rather than waiting for the next visit. Tell the team about autoimmune conditions, organ problems, infections, medicines, supplements, and any previous cancer treatment. Keep a record of changes such as diarrhoea, cough, breathlessness, rash, yellowing of the skin, severe fatigue, or unusual headaches.

Contact the oncology team urgently for trouble breathing, chest pain, severe or persistent diarrhoea, confusion, marked weakness, severe headache, new vision changes, or a rapidly worsening rash. These symptoms can signal inflammation that needs prompt assessment and treatment.

Ask which stage and tumour findings guide the recommendation, whether treatment follows surgery or treats active disease, how long monitoring continues, and which symptoms require same-day advice.