Receiving a melanoma skin cancer diagnosis can feel as though the ground beneath you has shifted. It can leave you feeling uncertain about your future and grappling with a flurry of emotions and seemingly urgent questions. You may find yourself asking, “What is the most common treatment for skin cancer?” or, more specifically, “What is the best treatment for my melanoma skin cancer?”
If your quest for answers has brought you to this page, you are in the right place. In the following sections, you will learn about the leading treatment options for melanoma skin cancer and where to find a specialist in Mohs surgery in Miami, FL, if it turns out to be the best treatment for your case.
Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment Options
To determine the best treatment for your melanoma skin cancer, your dermatologic surgeon will thoroughly evaluate several key factors, including the stage of your cancer, its location, and your overall health. With the results of this assessment in hand, your surgeon may recommend one or a combination of the following options:
1. Surgical Excision for Less Serious Cases
Surgical excision is the first-line treatment for low-risk melanomas. It involves cutting out the site of the melanoma along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure that no cancer cells remain. The width of the surgical margin depends on the depth and thickness of the melanoma, typically ranging from 0.5 to 2 centimeters.
Surgical excision is usually performed in-office, under local anesthesia. Recovery depends on the area and extent of the surgery.
Surgical excision is widely regarded as the gold standard for treating early-stage, localized, and thin melanomas, with a success rate exceeding 95%. For melanomas measuring less than 1 mm in thickness, the procedure offers the highest likelihood of a cure.
2. Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Select Cases
While Mohs micrographic surgery is primarily intended for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers, it is occasionally recommended for melanoma in situ (i.e., stage 0 melanoma), particularly when the lesion is located in a delicate or highly visible area like the face.
The procedure involves the step-by-step removal and microscopic examination of thin layers of cancerous tissue. The surgeon then analyzes each layer in real-time, tracking and removing only the cancerous cells while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
Mohs surgery is gaining traction for its impressive cure rate (up to 99%) and unparalleled precision, which allows for excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes. Mohs’ remarkable precision is attributed to its integration of an advanced laboratory technique called immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. This technique helps dermatologic surgeons detect even the tiniest traces of residual tumor cells, which might otherwise go undetected. Early and complete removal of residual tumor cells is vital, as they can lead to tumor regrowth after treatment.
3. Radiation Therapy for Advanced Cases
Radiation therapy is reserved for high-risk or advanced cases, for which surgical intervention is not feasible or has already been performed, and additional local control is necessary.
This treatment involves the use of a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC), which delivers highly precise X-ray or electron beams to the site to destroy cancer cells.
While melanoma is generally resistant to radiation, breakthroughs in radiotherapeutic techniques and delivery methods have improved the effectiveness of this treatment, particularly in addressing metastatic cases, where the cancer has reached other areas of the body.
Radiation therapy is quick and painless. Sessions are usually scheduled over the course of several weeks, depending on the case. It may be used either as a standalone treatment or in combination with immunotherapy or chemotherapy to enhance overall outcomes.
Treatment for Melanoma Skin Cancer in Miami, FL
Being diagnosed with the most serious form of skin cancer can be unsettling, but if you have a trusted specialist by your side to support and guide you toward your health and treatment goals, you can move forward with confidence knowing you are in the best of hands.
If you live in or around Miami, FL, entrust your care only to Dr. T.J. Giuffrida — a highly experienced Mohs surgeon and skin cancer specialist known for not only his expertise but also his compassionate, personalized approach to patient care.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Giuffrida, contact us at (305) 461-2000. You may also use this secure request form.
External Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14391-melanoma
