DISEASE FACTORS FOR DECISION MAKING Once your oncology team has gathered the information about your melanoma from the different tests, they will have a clearer picture of what is happening. They will assess a number of items about your disease.
Extent, Pace, and Location of Disease It’s important to recognize that Stage IV melanoma can take many forms. You may have a single metastasis (one site), or you may have metastases in many parts of your body. The extent of the disease affects what treatments are considered. So understanding the extent of the disease is important. Your oncology team may also look at how quickly the melanoma has spread (the pace of disease) based on prior scans and tests as well as how many sites are involved. If the tumor is spreading quickly, your team may recommend a more aggressive approach to treatment. The location of the disease is also important. Some therapies can reach throughout the body but are not effective when there is melanoma in the brain. Others can work effectively in the brain. Sometimes, melanoma spreads to distant sites on the skin and in the lymph nodes and can be cut out or injected with medication, so location is also important to consider when selecting therapy.
Stage IV Melanoma Treatment Options • Making the Decision That’s Right for You Copyright © 2022 AIM at Melanoma Foundation and Terranova Medica, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Document Released January 26, 2022.
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