Surgery

Surgery is the main treatment for melanomaThe type of surgery you need depends on the stage of your melanoma and where it is in your body. Find out about the different types of surgery for melanoma, what happens and the possible side effects.

Surgery to remove melanoma skin cancer

Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma skin cancer. Your doctor removes a larger area of healthy skin and tissue around where the melanoma was. You might also have a skin graft or skin flap.

Surgery to remove lymph nodes for melanoma skin cancer

If the lymph nodes close to the melanoma are swollen and have cancer cells in them, you might have the lymph nodes removed. This operation is called a lymph node dissection or lymphadenectomy.

Last reviewed: 
21 May 2020
Next review due: 
21 May 2023