Chemotherapy for advanced melanoma

Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. You might have chemotherapy for advanced melanoma. 

Chemotherapy doesn’t work as well against melanoma as it does for some other types of cancer. Doctors are more likely to use newer drugs called targeted cancer drugs or immunotherapy first to treat melanoma.

Chemotherapy for advanced melanoma

Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Find out more about chemotherapy and how you have it.

Chemotherapy into the arm or leg

Chemotherapy into the arm or leg is also called regional chemotherapy. It’s a way of having chemotherapy into one arm or leg, without the drugs circulating through the rest of your body.

Chemotherapy drugs

Dacarbazine is the chemotherapy drug most commonly used for advanced melanoma. Find out about how you have it and other important information about taking this drug. 

Last reviewed: 
01 May 2020
Next review due: 
01 May 2023