Malignant Melanoma: Therapy

General measures

  • Strive to maintain normal weight! Determination of BMI (body mass index) or body composition by means of electrical impedance analysis and, if necessary, participation in a medically supervised weight loss program or program for the underweight – Especially in men, overweight seems to be one of the risk factors for malignant melanoma.
    • BMI ≥ 25 → participation in a medically supervised weight loss program.
    • Falling below the BMI lower limit (from the age of 19: 19; from the age of 25: 20; from the age of 35: 21; from the age of 45: 22; from the age of 55: 23; from the age of 65: 24) → Participation in a medically supervised program for the underweight.
  • Review of permanent medication due topossible effect on the existing disease.
  • Avoidance of environmental stress:
    • UV exposure (especially: UV-B radiation/solariums).
  • Check skin regularly yourself (regardless of follow-up examinations).

Vaccinations

The following vaccinations are advised:

  • Flu vaccination
  • Pneumococcal vaccination

Regular checkups

Follow-up appointments are based on the stage of the disease:

  • Stage IA (tumor thickness ≤ 1 mm without ulceration, no metastases/daughter tumors):
  • Stage IB-IIB (tumor thickness ≤ 1 mm with ulceration or increased mitotic rate or > 1 mm with and without tumor ulceration, and tumor thickness > 4 mm without ulceration, no metastases):
    • Physical examination: 1st-3rd year every three months; 4th and 5th year twice a year; and 6th-10th year once or twice a year.
  • Stage IIC (tumors > 4 mm with ulceration) and stage III (with lymph node metastases):
  • Stage IV (with metastases in other organs).
    • Follow-up care according to the course of the disease

Nutritional medicine

  • Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
  • Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet, taking into account the general knowledge of nutrition in a tumor disease. This means:
    • Consume only limited energy-rich foods.
    • Moderate total fat intake
    • Little red meat (pork, beef, lamb, veal) and sausages.
    • Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, ie fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
    • High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
    • Daily total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
    • Reduce consumption of smoked and cured foods, because they contain nitrate or nitrite as a component of curing salt. Their preparation produces compounds (nitrosamines), which are risk factors for various tumor diseases.
    • Refrain from polluted foods such as offal and wild mushrooms.
    • Do not eat moldy food
  • Observe the following special dietary recommendations:
  • Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
  • Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.

Sports Medicine

  • Endurance training (cardio training) and strength training (muscle training).
    • In general, endurance training on a bicycle ergometer can be recommended, which is performed according to the principle of interval training. This means that load phases lasting 1 to 3 minutes alternate with rest phases also lasting 1 to 3 minutes. The training should be performed at about 80% of the maximum heart rate for a total of 30 minutes.
  • Preparation of a fitness or training plan with suitable sports disciplines based on a medical check (health check or athlete check).
  • Detailed information on sports medicine you will receive from us.

Psychotherapy

Training

  • Skin self-examination training program