Question: Chemo therapy for melanoma cancer? do you have to get chemo if you have melanoma cancer and it spread to the lymph nodes?
Answer: There are some cases in which chemotherapy may be used for advanced melanoma . . as chemo is a systemic treatment. The idea of chemo is that it will follow the same paths that any microscopic malignant cells follow and kill them before they start a new tumor in a distant location. Chemotherapy can be used successfully to control the spread of disease especially to the lymph nodes. So, in some cases chemo will be used in the treatment of melanoma. Another way to use chemo is to perfuse only one area of the body (such as an arm or leg). Heating the chemo can also be used to effectively kill off or halt the spread of disease.
What you need to know about melanoma
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/melanoma/page1
You can check the guidelines given for melanoma at various stages:
National Comprehensive Cancer Network: Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology - Melanoma
http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/melanoma.pdf
Best to you.
