Once you’ve been diagnosed with melanoma, your doctor will typically tell you the stage of your melanoma based on how far the cancer has spread. The way that melanoma spreads is a bit different from other cancers. The higher the stage of melanoma, the deeper it has spread into the layers of your skin, and the more serious your cancer is.
Melanoma is known mostly as a cancer of the skin. Melanocytes are the cells of the skin that produce the pigment melanin that colors the skin, hair, and eyes. They can also form moles, which is typically the origin of a melanoma diagnosis.
Melanoma is staged based on how deep the cancer has infiltrated the skin.
- Stage 1: less than 1 mm in depth and easily removed by a dermatologist
- Stage 2: greater than 1mm in depth and removed by a surgical oncologist
- Stage 3: greater than 2 mm or 3 mm in depth and has spread into the lymph nodes
- Stage 4: most advanced stage representing cancer that has spread to other parts of the body
There are treatments for all stages of melanoma, although the cure rate is highest for those in the earlier stages. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with melanoma, your doctor will typically tell you the stage of your melanoma based on how far the cancer has spread. The way that melanoma spreads is a bit different from other cancers. The higher the stage of melanoma, the deeper it has spread into the layers of your skin, and the more serious your cancer is.
Melanoma is known mostly as a cancer of the skin. Melanocytes are the cells of the skin that produce the pigment melanin that colors the skin, hair, and eyes. They can also form moles, which is typically the origin of a melanoma diagnosis.
Read More Melanoma is staged based on how deep the cancer has infiltrated the skin.- Stage 1: less than 1 mm in depth and easily removed by a dermatologist
- Stage 2: greater than 1mm in depth and removed by a surgical oncologist
- Stage 3: greater than 2 mm or 3 mm in depth and has spread into the lymph nodes
- Stage 4: most advanced stage representing cancer that has spread to other parts of the body
There are treatments for all stages of melanoma, although the cure rate is highest for those in the earlier stages. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
