Stages of melanoma are categorized according to how thick the tumor is, how deeply the melanoma has invaded the skin, and whether cancer cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body. The stages include stage 0 to IV and recurrent. Knowing the stages of melanoma helps a doctor determine the appropriate type and amount of treatment a patient requires.
Stages of Melanoma: An Overview
Staging is a careful attempt to learn:
- How thick the tumor is
- How deeply the melanoma has invaded the skin
- Whether melanoma cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
The doctor may remove nearby lymph nodes to check for cancer cells. (Such surgery may be considered part of the treatment, because removing cancerous lymph nodes may help control the disease.)
The doctor will also perform a careful physical exam and, if the tumor is thick, may also order:
- Chest x-rays
- Blood tests
- Scans of the liver, bones, and brain.
Specific Stages of Melanoma
The stages of melanoma include:
- Stage 0
- Stage I
- Stage II
- Stage III
- Stage IV
- Recurrent.
Stage 0 Melanoma
In stage 0 melanoma, the melanoma cells are found only in the outer layer of skin cells and they have not invaded deeper tissues. Stage 0 melanoma is also called melanoma in situ.
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