People undergoing chemotherapy for melanoma can receive it by mouth, by injection, or through a process called isolated limb perfusion. The drugs are generally given in cycles: a treatment period followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period, and so on. Chemotherapy for melanoma is generally administered on an outpatient basis (at the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home).
Chemotherapy for Melanoma: An Overview
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It is sometimes used to treat
melanoma. Chemotherapy for melanoma is usually given in cycles -- a treatment period followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period, and so on.
In most cases, people will have chemotherapy for melanoma as an outpatient (at the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home). However, depending on which drugs are given and on the patient's general health, a short hospital stay may be needed.
Types of Chemotherapy for Melanoma
Patients may receive chemotherapy for melanoma by mouth or injection or by isolated limb perfusion.
Mouth or Injection
In chemotherapy for melanoma by mouth or injection, the drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body.
Isolated Limb Perfusion
In isolated limb perfusion (also called isolated arterial perfusion), chemotherapy drugs are put directly into the bloodstream of that limb (such as an arm or leg). The flow of blood to and from the limb is stopped for a while, which allows most of the drug to reach the tumor directly. Most of the chemotherapy drugs remain in that limb.
In both types of chemotherapy for melanoma, drugs may be heated before injection. This type of chemotherapy is called hyperthermic perfusion.
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