Controlling advanced melanoma symptoms
Controlling symptoms is an important part of your care. Always tell your doctor or nurse about symptoms or side effects, as there are things they can do to help.
About controlling advanced melanoma symptoms
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy drugs help people with advanced melanoma live longer. There may be long periods when the cancer is under control and you can live your regular life. These drugs can also control symptoms, but they may take a few weeks to work. You can have other treatments to control symptoms along with your immunotherapy or targeted drugs.
Controlling symptoms is an important part of your care. Always tell your doctor or nurse about symptoms or side effects, as there are things they can do to help.
You may see a doctor or nurse who is an expert in helping control symptoms. They may be based in a hospital, or in the community as part of a palliative care team. Palliative care means treatment to manage symptoms and to improve your quality of life. It can be used at any stage of advanced cancer. Your GP or cancer doctor can arrange a referral.
If treatments are no longer controlling the cancer, you and your doctor may decide your care should focus on palliative care only.
Managing symptoms
You will see your doctors and nurses at the hospital regularly for check-ups. Always tell them about any symptoms or side effects you have, so they can arrange the right treatment and help. If you have any worries between appointments, contact your specialist nurse or GP.
The symptoms you may have depend on where the melanoma has spread to. Treating the secondary cancer will usually improve the symptoms.
Symptoms of melanoma in the lungs
If melanoma has spread to the lungs, you may:
- feel breathless
- have a build-up of fluid in the lining of the lungs – this is called pleural effusion.
Different drugs can help relieve breathlessness. If you have a pleural effusion, doctors can drain the fluid from the lung to improve your breathing. We have more information about treating the symptoms of secondary lung cancer.
Symptoms of melanoma in the bones
If melanoma has spread to the bones, you may have bone problems. There are different ways these can be treated. If you have a painful area in a bone, a short course of radiotherapy can improve this.
Melanoma in the spine may press on the spinal cord and cause a condition called spinal cord compression. This is not common. If you do have symptoms of spinal cord compression, contact your doctor immediately as you may need urgent surgery or radiotherapy. These symptoms can include:
- back or neck pain which might feel like a band around your chest or tummy
- muscle weakness
- numbness and weakness in the legs
- problems controlling your bladder or bowels.
Symptoms of melanoma in the brain
If melanoma spreads to the brain, you may:
- have headaches
- feel sick
- have a seizure (fit).
Treating the secondary cancer with stereotactic radiosurgery or immunotherapy will relieve the symptoms.
Doctors also usually prescribe steroids. These help reduce symptoms caused by a tumour increasing pressure inside the brain. Steroids reduce swelling and help you to feel better. Anti-epilepsy drugs can help control any seizures.
Symptoms of melanoma in the liver
Secondary cancer in the liver may cause general symptoms such as:
- tiredness
- feeling sick
- eating difficulties.
Your doctor can prescribe medicines treat sickness. Different types of painkillers can be used to manage pain.
We have more information about coping with tiredness. If you have eating difficulties you can ask to speak to a dietitian for advice.
About our information
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our advanced melanoma information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at cancerinformationteam@macmillan.org.uk
Keilholz U, Ascierto PA, Dummer R, et al. ESMO consensus conference recommendations on the management of metastatic melanoma: under the auspices of the ESMO Guidelines Committee. Annals of Oncology. 2020. 31 (11): 1435-1448 [accessed May 2022].
Peach H, Board R, Cook M, et al. Current role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of cutaneous melanoma: A UK consensus statement. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. 2020; 73, 1, 36-42 [accessed May 2022].
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Reviewers
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer. It has been approved by Senior Medical Editor, Dr Samra Turajlic, Consultant Medical Oncologist.
Our cancer information has been awarded the PIF TICK. Created by the Patient Information Forum, this quality mark shows we meet PIF’s 10 criteria for trustworthy health information.
The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
- structure the information clearly
- make sure important points are clear.
We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.
Date reviewed
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
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