Highlights
Melanoma: Stages
If the diagnosis is melanoma, the doctor needs to learn the extent, or stage, of the disease before planning treatment. Staging is a careful attempt to learn how thick the tumor is, how deeply the melanoma has invaded the skin, and whether melanoma cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
The following stages are used to describe melanoma:
- Stage 0: In stage 0, the melanoma cells are found only in the outer layer of skin cells and have not invaded deeper tissues.
- Stage I: Melanoma in stage I is thin and has not spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage II: The tumor is at least 1 millimeter thick and may be ulcerated; the melanoma cells have not spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage III: The melanoma cells have spread to nearby tissues.
- Stage IV: The melanoma cells have spread to organs, lymph nodes, or skin far away from the original tumor.
- Recurrent: Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may have come back in the original site or in another part of the body.
Skin Cancer Information
Find a Dermatologist near you who specializes in the treatment of skin disorders and beauty enhancement.
Watch the Video:
"Indoor Tanning is Out"
Take the Skin Cancer Survey
View the latest Skin Cancer Survey Results