Adjuvant therapies for melanoma
If there’s a risk that the melanoma could come back (recur), other treatments are sometimes used after surgery to try to reduce that risk. These are known as adjuvant (or additional) therapies.
They may include:
- radiation therapy – the use of x-rays to damage or kill cancer cells (also known as radiotherapy)
- targeted therapy – the use of drugs to attack particular gene mutations that allow cancers to grow and spread
- immunotherapy – the use of drugs to stimulate the body’s immune system to recognise and fight some types of cancer cells.
For more on radiation therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, see Treatment for advanced melanoma.
You may also be offered an opportunity to participate in a clinical trial.
This information was last reviewed in January 2017
View who reviewed this content
We thank the reviewers of this booklet: Prof Brendon J Coventry, Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Surgical Oncologist, Royal Adelaide Hospital, and Research Director, Australian Melanoma Research Foundation, SA; A/Prof Victoria Atkinson, Senior Medical Oncologist, Princess Alexandria Hospital and Greenslopes Private Hospital, QLD; Prof Diona Damian, Dermatologist, University of Sydney at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Melanoma Institute Australia, NSW; Sharon Dei Rocini, Consumer; Prof Gerald Fogarty, Director, Radiation Oncology, St Vincent’s Hospital, NSW; Chantal Gebbie, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Miklos Pohl OAM, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Epworth Healthcare, VIC; Julie Teraci, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Western Australian Melanoma Advisory Service, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA.
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The cancer information on this website is based on the Understanding Cancer series booklets published by Cancer Council. This information is reviewed and updated every two years or as new information comes to hand. Cancer Council works with cancer doctors, specialist nurses or other relevant health professionals to ensure the medical information is reliable and up to date. Consumers also check the booklets to ensure they meet the needs of people with cancer. Before commencing any health treatment, always consult your doctor. This information is intended as a general introduction and should not be seen as a substitute for your own doctor’s or health professional’s advice. All care is taken to ensure that the information contained is accurate at the time of publication.
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