TREATMENT OF SUBUNGAL MELANOMA (SM)
The main treatment for SM is surgical excision and any decisions regarding the depth of excision should be based on the stage of SM. You may be referred to a surgical oncologist for lesions confirmed to be SM or a referral to dermatology may be appropriate when a second opinion is needed.
Surgical Options
- Conservative Excision: Doctors remove only the abnormal tissue or the nail unit when caught early, aiming to save the finger or toe.
- Wide Local Excision (WLE): Surgeons remove the entire nail, nail bed, and a small border of healthy tissue around it.
- Amputation: This traditional approach removes the end of the affected finger or toe. It is reserved for advanced cases.
- Sentinel Node Biopsy: Doctors test nearby lymph nodes to see if the cancer has spread.
Additional Therapies
- Immunotherapy: treatment that stimulates the immune system to fight disease
- Targeted Therapy: treatment for people whose melanoma possesses specific genetic changes
- Radiation Therapy: treatment that uses a high-energy beam to kill cancer cells
If you or a loved one received a diagnosis, please contact Melanoma Canada’s Cancer Coach support@melanomacanada.ca