UCSF Health: Advanced Care for Melanoma and Skin Cancer
At UCSF Health, a multidisciplinary team of experts provides comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and clinical trials for all stages of melanoma and other skin cancers, including squamous cell, basal cell, and Merkel cell carcinomas. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for successful outcomes, and UCSF specializes in treating all types of melanoma, including rare subtypes.
Why Choose UCSF Health for Skin Cancer Care?
UCSF Health distinguishes itself through its collaborative approach, extensive experience, and commitment to the latest therapies and surgical procedures. The program sees over 400 patients annually, making it one of the most experienced in the Bay Area. Complex cases are regularly reviewed by tumor boards, ensuring tailored treatment recommendations and coordinated care.
Advanced Diagnostic Testing
UCSF utilizes cutting-edge diagnostic tools to detect melanoma as early as possible. Specialized dermatopathologists, focusing solely on skin biopsies, provide accurate diagnoses and staging. Advanced molecular profiling identifies genetic changes (mutations) like BRAF, NRAS, and KIT, enabling targeted treatment plans. Learn more about diagnostic testing at UCSF Health.
Surgical Options for Melanoma
Surgery is often the primary treatment for melanoma that hasn’t spread. UCSF dermatologic surgeons offer expertise in various skin cancer surgeries, including:
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A minimally invasive procedure removing skin layer by layer until no cancer cells remain, preserving healthy tissue. Ideal for sensitive areas like the face and hands, and effective for larger tumors.
- Wide Excision Surgery: Removal of the tumor with a margin of healthy tissue, suitable for smaller or uncomplicated tumors in less visible areas.
Surgery may as well be recommended for melanoma that has spread to lymph nodes, lungs, brain, or other areas, often combined with immunotherapy or chemotherapy. Explore dermatologic surgery options at UCSF Health.
Immunotherapy for Skin Cancer
UCSF medical oncologists employ the latest immunotherapies to treat advanced melanoma and other skin cancers. Immunotherapies harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer and can be used alone or in conjunction with surgery.
- Neoadjuvant Therapy: Immunotherapy administered before surgery to shrink tumors.
- Adjuvant Therapy: Immunotherapy given after surgery to prevent cancer recurrence.
Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy
UCSF offers tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for advanced melanoma that hasn’t responded to other treatments. This groundbreaking cellular immunotherapy involves removing cancer-fighting immune cells (lymphocytes) from a surgically removed tumor, multiplying them in a lab, and infusing them back into the patient after chemotherapy to enhance the immune response. Learn more about the Melanoma Program at UCSF.
Additional Treatments
UCSF may recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy in combination with surgery or immunotherapy. Radiation therapy can treat cancer, reduce recurrence risk, shrink tumors, and alleviate symptoms like pain and fatigue. UCSF offers advanced radiation therapy techniques, including proton beam radiation therapy for ocular melanoma and stereotactic radiosurgery for metastatic brain tumors. Find more information about radiation oncology at UCSF Health.
Accessing Care at UCSF
UCSF Health provides comprehensive care for all stages of melanoma, from initial diagnosis to long-term follow-up. Patients are evaluated by appropriate specialists – dermatologists, melanoma surgeons, and medical oncologists – and multidisciplinary tumor boards review cases to develop individualized treatment recommendations. Schedule an appointment with UCSF Health’s melanoma and skin cancer team.