Tools To Help You With Treatment Decisions
After receiving a melanoma diagnosis, you will be presented with a lot of information, testing recommendations, and—if you’re diagnosed with a later stage melanoma—treatment options. So that you and your healthcare team can make the best decisions for you, it will be important to understand your risk of recurrence, to know all of your treatment options, and to learn specifics about each treatment. To assist you, AIM has created the following support tools.
Stage IV Melanoma Treatment Options: Making the Decision That’s Right for You
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma or is being evaluated for it, this publication is designed to help you and your oncology team evaluate treatment options and identify the different considerations in deciding your treatment course. Using this guide, you and your team can weigh the options to make the decision that is right for you.
Options for Stage III Melanoma: Making the Decision That’s Right for You
AIM’s guide, Options for Stage III Melanoma: Making the Decision That’s Right for You, is written for Stage III patients, to help explain what treatment options are available. The booklet begins by providing an in-depth discussion of why Stage III patients are at high risk for a melanoma recurrence and why treatment should be considered. It continues with a discussion of the treatment options available for Stage III patients, followed by information about how the drugs work and their side effects. The booklet also discusses other considerations such as fertility, finances, and drug administration. Finally, this guide provides a chart to help weigh the different options and, ultimately, make the treatment decision.
Options for Stage II Melanoma: Making the Decision That’s Right for You
To help you or your loved one learn more about Stage II melanoma and weigh the benefits and risks of adjuvant therapy vs active surveillance, we’ve brought together two experts in melanoma for a discussion.
On behalf of AIM, Dr. Geoffrey Lim, a dermatologic surgeon in private practice at SkinMed Institute in Lone Tree, Colorado, interviewed Dr. Jason Luke, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a leading medical oncologist and one of the authors of a key adjuvant therapy study. They discussed the most common questions about Stage II melanoma, which Stage II patients are eligible for adjuvant therapy, and the pros and cons of adjuvant therapy vs active surveillance. This resource should help you, your loved one, and your oncology care team make an informed decision about steps to take after surgery.
Is Immunotherapy Working for Me? What a Blood Draw Can Reveal
A new blood test is available for Stage IV patients that can help assess whether immunotherapy treatment is working and therefore help guide decisions about treatment. This booklet explains how the test works, gives examples of how the test might help guide treatment decisions, and offers an FAQ section that answers financial questions.
BRAF in Melanoma: Answering Questions, Addressing Misconceptions
This booklet is for Stage III and IV patients, as well as certain Stage II patients. It explains what BRAF is, why BRAF status matters, and how the BRAF test is performed. It also explains how BRAF status relates to treatment decisions.
Side Effect Management Guides
In partnership with leading melanoma oncology experts, AIM has developed comprehensive and up-to-date information on the side effects of commonly used melanoma treatments currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Download or flip through the following patient-friendly side melanoma side effect management guides: