Once you’ve been diagnosed with melanoma, your doctor will typically tell you what stage you’re at based on how far the melanoma cancer has spread. The way that melanoma spreads is a bit different than other cancers, and it spreads to the different layers that make up your skin. The higher the stage of melanoma you’re in, 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.
The way that melanoma is staged is based on how deep the cancer has infiltrated the skin. Stage one can be easily cured with removal by a dermatologist. Stage two is greater than 1mm in depth. A Stage three melanoma has leaked into the lymph nodes. And Stage four disease means that the melanoma has gone into the vital organs.
The above video will break down the different stages, how to distinguish them, and what you need to know about each one.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Anna Pavlick is a medical oncologist and a Professor of Medicine and Dermatology at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center. Read More
Once you’ve been diagnosed with melanoma, your doctor will typically tell you what stage you’re at based on how far the melanoma cancer has spread. The way that melanoma spreads is a bit different than other cancers, and it spreads to the different layers that make up your skin. The higher the stage of melanoma you’re in, 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.
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The way that melanoma is staged is based on how deep the cancer has infiltrated the skin. Stage one can be easily cured with removal by a dermatologist. Stage two is greater than 1mm in depth. A
Stage three melanoma has leaked into the
lymph nodes. And
Stage four disease means that the melanoma has gone into the vital organs.
The above video will break down the different stages, how to distinguish them, and what you need to know about each one.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Anna Pavlick is a medical oncologist and a Professor of Medicine and Dermatology at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center. Read More
