Skin Cancer
The internationally-renowned Center for Melanoma’s rich history of clinical innovation, combined with extensive ongoing research, offers patients experienced, cutting-edge care.
Our Approach
Multidisciplinary Patient CareEach patient in our program is cared for by a multidisciplinary team of experts who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers. These specialists include:
- Dermatologists
- Medical oncologists
- Surgical oncologists
- Dermatopathologists
Patients may also meet with radiation oncologists.
Expertise in Diagnosing and Staging CancersOur Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Center is a world-class resource for diagnosing and staging skin cancers. The dermatologists associated with this center see a great number of melanoma patients and are highly expert at recognizing suspect moles and other lesions. They are early adopters of techniques and technologies that improve diagnostics and are on the forefront of evaluation and monitoring of melanoma and other skin cancers.
Specialized pathologists, called dermatopathologists, analyze biopsy slides to determine whether a pigmented skin lesion is a benign mole or malignant melanoma. They provide information that helps the care team determine the best treatment for each patient’s unique tumor.
In addition, our world-renowned pathologists are leading multiple research projects to improve diagnoses of melanoma and skin cancers, identify which patients are more likely to develop metastatic disease, and determine the effectiveness of treatments early on.
We provide genetic counseling through our Melanoma Genetics Program, helping to assess hereditary risk in young patients and those with strong family histories of melanoma.
Comprehensive Treatment ApproachesPatients diagnosed with melanoma are most often treated with surgery to remove the cancerous tissue. Following surgery, patients are monitored closely, with regular checkups and follow-up, to watch for any new suspicious lesions. If the lesion is malignant, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be treatment options.
Excellence in Surgical CareOur surgeons offer the highest degree of clinical expertise available in the treatment of melanoma and skin cancers. Among the surgical approaches offered here are:
- Surgery for primary melanomas
- Plastic surgical reconstructions
- Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy, which enables the surgeon to remove only one node— instead of several— in order to determine if a cancer has spread
- Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion, a procedure in which doctors isolate flood flow from an affected limb and treat it with high-dose chemotherapy
- Hyperthermic isolated liver perfusion using targeted high-dose chemotherapy to treat ocular melanomas that have spread to the liver
About This Program
Our program is known internationally for the evaluation and treatment of the following skin cancers:
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
- Merkel cell carcinoma
Innovative Approaches Advance Clinical CareOur physicians and research scientists are recognized globally for advancing treatment for melanoma and other skin cancers. Our unique programs include:
- Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Center is the oldest, continually operating multidisciplinary center in the country and offers expert evaluations of skin conditions that may be cancerous, from the common to the very rare
- Melanoma Genetics Program, which works to identify the genetic causes of skin cancer
- A melanoma new drug discovery program, which works to understand molecular targets within melanoma cells and identify new drugs capable of inhibiting those targets
- Examination of the inflammatory response and its role in metastases
- Immunotherapy, used to treat patients with metastatic melanoma using their own genetically manipulated T lymphocytes, a type of disease-fighting white blood cell that is part of the body’s natural immune system, to infiltrate and attack their tumors
- Targeted therapies, which are developed by identifying the genetic make-up of individual cancers in order to determine the most appropriate, targeted, therapy for each patient’s unique cancer
- Exploring new uses for existing cancer therapeutics to treat rare types of melanoma
- Studying the molecular basis beneath the link between UV exposure and melanoma and using this information to devise novel prevention strategies
- Identifying tumor biomarkers which may help optimize management of melanoma in any stage of advancement.
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 877-789-6100
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell cancer, sometimes called non-melanoma skin cancer, usually appears as a small, fleshy bump or nodule on the head, neck, or hands. Occasionally, these nodules appear on the trunk of the body, usually as flat growths.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a disease of the skin in which cancer cells are found in the melanocytes, the cells that produce color in the skin or pigment known as melanin.
Merkel Cell Cancer
Merkel cell cancer is also known as neuroendocrine cancer of the skin, or trabecular cancer.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the skin cells and accounts for more than 50 percent of all cancers.
HOPES Program
The HOPES Program provides free wellness services, plus education and support workshops for patients with cancer, their families and their friends. Our services focus on helping you take care of your whole self – mind, body and spirit.
Maxwell V. Blum Cancer Resource Room
The Maxwell V. Blum Cancer Resource Room at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center provides cancer patients and their families with information and resources for living with cancer.
Illuminations Program
Illuminations is a rotating art exhibit displayed in the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. The program aims to enlighten and encourage patients and their loved ones by enhancing our environment of care.
Cancer Center
55 Fruit StreetBoston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-726-5130
Explore your treatment options 
Learn more about the specialized treatment options our experienced medical teams provide for each type of cancer.
