Full Node Dissection May be History

[Catherine Poole]

A researcher at the MRA conference again confirmed that a full node dissection is most likely overkill. Often she feels that the melanoma cells have already escaped. Quality of life is a huge concern with a full node dissection whereas some folks may have to live a very limited life due to lymphedema and mobility issues. So it appears to me that adjuvant therapy may play a bigger role. We now have the PD1 drug opdivo and soon will have Keytruda approved for stage 3A and up. That may create a bigger quality of life issue deciding who should watch and wait and others who may experience serious side effects.

[Linny]

Would this also apply to those with unknown primaries?

[Catherine Poole]

The biology would be the same for unknown primaries. So I would guess so. I also don’t think this will go mainstream for a while. Patients will have to come prepared to present this point of few.

[Author]

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