Prevent A Melanoma In-Situ Relapse

You’ve been diagnosed with melanoma in-situ. This is not an invasive cancer yet you want to prevent a melanoma in-situ relapse. On the one hand, melanoma in-situ is not cancer, it is pre-cancer. On the other hand, it is in the patient’s best interest to insure that this pre-cancer does not relapse.

According to research, almost 100,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma in-situ in 2024

Mohs surgery is the most common therapy to remove melanoma in-situ. The article linked below standardizes the margins that show a low risk of relapse.

If the patient does not want to surgically remove the melanoma, he/she can undergo any/all of the therapies below shown to reduce the risk of relapse.

What are those non-conventional therapies that reduce the risk of relapse for melanoma in-situ?

1. Diet and Nutrition

Antioxidant-Rich Foods: Foods high in antioxidants (e.g., berries, leafy greens, nuts) can help protect cells from damage.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fish oil and flaxseed, these can have anti-inflammatory effects.
Curcumin: The active ingredient in turmeric has been shown to have anti-cancer properties.

2. Supplements

Vitamin D: Adequate levels of vitamin D may play a role in skin health and cancer prevention.
Green Tea Extract: Contains polyphenols that have been studied for their anti-cancer properties.
Melatonin: Some studies suggest melatonin may have anti-cancer effects.

3. Herbal Remedies

Milk Thistle: Contains silymarin, which may have protective effects against skin cancer.
Aloe Vera: Known for its skin-healing properties, it may also help reduce inflammation.

4. Lifestyle Changes

Regular Exercise: Physical activity can boost the immune system and improve overall health.
Stress Reduction: Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and mindfulness can reduce stress and may positively impact immune function.
Avoiding Smoking and Limiting Alcohol: Both smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can weaken the immune system and increase cancer risk.

5. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Acupuncture: May help improve immune function and reduce stress.
Herbal Medicine: Various herbs used in TCM have been studied for their potential anti-cancer properties.

6. Mind-Body Therapies

Meditation and Mindfulness: Practices that help manage stress and improve mental well-being.
Hypnotherapy: May help with stress reduction and promoting a positive mental state.

7. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Although more conventional, PDT is a non-invasive treatment that uses light-activated drugs to kill cancer cells and may be used alongside traditional treatments for better outcomes.

8. Hyperthermia

Local or whole-body hyperthermia (raising the temperature of the body or a part of it) can enhance the effectiveness of other cancer treatments.

9. Probiotics and Gut Health

Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome through probiotics and a balanced diet can support the immune system.

10. Essential Oils

Oils such as frankincense and lavender may have anti-inflammatory and healing properties when used in aromatherapy or topically (with caution).

I sat in the sun way too much as a teen. I have been diagnosed with melanoma in-situ and I work to prevent a melanoma in-situ relapse by undergoing many of the non-conventional therapies listed above.

Further, I was diagnosed with a different cancer in early 1994. High dose chemotherapy increased my risk of skin cancer.

If you are interested in learning more about non-conventional therapies to reduce your risk of cancer email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com

Thank you,

David Emerson

Cancer Survivor
Cancer Coach
Director People

Excision With 5-mm Margins Evaluated in Small Melanoma In Situ

Patients with small melanoma in situ (MIS) on low-risk body sites that was managed with 5-mm margins had a local recurrence rate of 0.9%, results from a retrospective case series from a single dermatology practice in Australia showed.

This approach has the potential to reduce morbidity and cost associated with treatment “without compromising patient outcomes in a selected population of lesions,” the authors say.

“Currently, there is uncertainty regarding the optimal excision margin for MIS, with different guidelines recommending a range between 5 and 10 mm,” corresponding author Cong Sun, MD, of Mater Hospital Brisbane Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and colleagues wrote in the study, which was published on June 26, 2024 in JAMA Dermatology. “In addition, studies using the Mohs micrographic surgery technique have suggested that wider margins, up to 18 mm, may be required for MIS in some settings.”

To further examine the use of 5-mm margins for excision of small MIS on low-risk sites, the researchers retrospectively evaluated 351 MIS lesions diagnosed in 292 patients between January 1, 2011, and November 30, 2018.

Lesions were eligible for analysis if a 5-mm excisional margin was documented on the operation report and if there was more than 5 years of site-specific follow-up after wide local excision. Lesions with undocumented margins were excluded from analysis, as were those with fewer than 5 years of follow-up, and those that required more than one wide local excision.

The mean age of patients was 60.3 years, 55.5% were female, and the mean dimensions of the lesions was 6 × 5 mm. The most common subtype of melanoma diagnosed was superficial spreading melanoma (50.4% of lesions), followed by lentigo maligna (30.5%) and lentiginous MIS (19.1%). Nearly half of the lesions were on the trunk (47.9%), followed by the upper limb (27.4%), lower limb (16.8%), neck (4%), face (3.4%), and scalp (0.6%). As for the size of lesions, 78.1% were < 10 mm long and 88.9% were < 10 mm wide.

Nearly 71% (248) of the lesions were treated with an initial excisional biopsy, and 29.3% (103) underwent an initial shave excision. Median follow-up was 7 years.

Only three of the 351 lesions (0.9%) had a local recurrence, with no regional recurrence or metastatic spread, and 99.1% had no recurrence. The recurrences were reexcised “with clear margins” and after at least 5 years of follow-up, no further recurrences were reported, the authors said.

In Mohs surgery studies, reported recurrence rates for MIS have been “between 0.26% and 1.1%, with excisional margins between 6 and 12 mm required,” the authors noted.

“This study demonstrated a comparable 0.9% recurrence rate achieved with a conservative 5-mm excisional margin. This shows that using a 5-mm margin for MIS of smaller size (<10 mm) may reduce morbidity and cost associated with treatment without compromising patient outcomes in a selected population of lesions.”

The researchers recommended additional studies to confirm their findings and acknowledged certain limitations of their analysis, including its retrospective, single-center design and the predominantly small sizes of the lesions…”

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