The type of treatment is dependent on the type of melanoma you have. Adjuvant treatment can be given either intravenously (a needle in the arm) every 4-6 weeks for immunotherapy or by taking tablets orally for targeted treatments. If you have had surgery due to the recurrence of your melanoma and there is no suggestion of disease elsewhere you could be eligible for adjuvant treatments for a year to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring after surgery. Having any operation can cause complications. There is no evidence that people who have this operation live longer than people who do not have it. These trials often cannot accept people who have not had this operation. People who have had the operation may be able to take part in clinical trials of new treatments to prevent future melanoma. In 4 out of 5 people, cancer will not develop in the remaining lymph nodes, so there is a chance that the operation will have been done unnecessarily. The operation is less complicated and safer than waiting until cancer develops in the remaining lymph nodes and then removing them. Lymphedema (long-term swelling) may develop, and is most likely if the operation is in the groin and least likely in the head and neck. Removing the rest of the lymph nodes before cancer develops in them reduces the chance of the cancer returning in the same part of the body. Possible disadvantages of completion lymphadenectomy Possible advantages of completion lymphadenectomy Please note that block dissection surgery and completion lymphadenectomy are the same procedure. The doctor will inform you which part of the body will be operated on. Various tests that the doctors may have performed (such as CT scans, fine needle biopsy, sentinel node biopsy surgery) have shown that cancer cells could potentially be present in the lymph nodes in your groin, armpit or neck. Lymph nodes are part of the immune system to fight infection, but also filter cancer cells. Large collections of these lymph nodes can be found in your armpits, groins, and the neck area. Fluid drains from these vessels into lymph nodes. ![]() The lymphatic system is made up of vessels (similar to blood vessels) that drain away excess fluid from the body. Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system. Surgery can be performed on the neck, armpit or groin. What is a block dissection?īlock dissection surgery involves surgically removing most of the lymph nodes (glands) from a specific part of the body. ![]() If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team caring for you. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your doctor, but may act as a starting point for discussion. Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet. ![]() This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your forthcoming surgery. Need some help choosing a language? Please refer to Browsealoud Supported Voices and Languages. You can translate this page by using the headphones button (bottom left) and then select the globe to change the language of the page.
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