Soft tissue melanoma commonly develops in the legs, and surgery is usually the first treatment used. Doctors may be able to surgically remove the cancer without amputating the whole limb. In these procedures, the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue is removed, and it's usually followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells. In some cases, though, amputations are necessary. Amputation is generally used if the cancer has spread into the muscle or bone of that limb or if it wouldn't be possible to get rid of all the cancer with another procedure. However, it's usually used only if absolutely necessary, so talk to your doctor about your options.
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