Know the Melanoma Skin Cancer Stages Stage

Contents:

• Medical Video: 5 Common Signs of Melanoma
  
• Four stages of melanoma skin cancer stage
  
• 1. Stage 1 melanoma
  
• 2. Stage 2 melanoma
  
• 3. Stage 3 melanoma
  
• 4. Stage 4 melanoma
  

Medical Video: 5 Common Signs of Melanoma

Did you know that a mole in one part of your body can be a sign of melanoma skin cancer? It is not easy to distinguish normal moles and moles that will develop into melanoma. One way you can use is to recognize melanoma by knowing the stages and stages of melanoma. Well, this article will help you recognize the stages of melanoma skin cancer stage.

Four stages of melanoma skin cancer stage

Stage melanoma skin cancer consists of four stages. Each stage will usually be divided into two to three parts. Each stage of the melanoma stage will usually be different from the other stages. The greater the number, the spread of cancer cells becomes more virulent.

Why is it important to know the stages in the stage of melanoma skin cancer? Knowing the stage can help you decide on the best treatment options. At the stage of cancer cell development, also known stages of TNM stage. TNM stands for, where T describes the size of the tumor, N explains whether there is a spread of cancer cells in the lymph nodes, and M to explain whether cancer cells have spread to other body parts.

More clearly about the four stages of melanoma skin cancer stage, see the following explanation.

1. Stage 1 melanoma

Stage 1 is the initial stage of melanoma skin cancer. At this stage, melanoma is only on the skin like a mole and there are no signs that it will spread to lymph nodes or other body parts. Phase 2 is divided into two parts, stages 1A and 1B.

Stage 1A

• Melanoma thickness is less than 1 millimeter (mm).
• The layer of skin covered by the tumor has not broken. This means there are no open wounds on the skin.
• The mitotic level (describing the number of cells in the process divided into a number of melanoma tissues) is less than 1 mm.
• If using the TNM stage, then T1a, NO, M0.

Stage 1B

• Melanoma thickness is less than 1 mm.
• The minimum mitosis level of 1 mm is usually between 1 and 2 mm but has not been injured or broken.
• If using the TNM stadium, then T1b, N0, M0 and T2a, N0, M0.

2. Stage 2 melanoma

In the second stage, melanoma is only in the skin and there are no signs that cell cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other body parts. Stage 2 is divided into three parts, 2A, 2B, and 2C.

Stage 2A

• The thickness of the melanoma is 1 to 2 mm and has ruptured causing injury.
• The mitotic level is between 2 and 4 mm but not yet broken or injured.
• If using TNM stadium, then T2b, N0, M0, and T3a, N0, M0.

Stage 2B

• The thickness of the melanoma is 2 to 4 mm and has ruptured causing injury.
• The mitotic level reaches a thickness of 4 mm but has not yet ulcerated or ruptured.
• If using TNM stadium, then T3b, N0, M0, and T4a, N0, M0.

Stage 2C

• The thickness of melanoma has reached 4 mm and has been injured.
• If using the TNM stadium, then T4b, N0, M0.

3. Stage 3 melanoma

In this third stage, cancer cells have spread to the skin, lymph vessels, or lymph nodes that are close to melanoma. This depends on a number of factors including the ulceration process. Ulceration is when the skin covers the broken melanoma. Stage 3 can be divided into 3A, 3B and 3C.

Stage 3A

• Lymph nodes near the skin of the melanoma contain melanoma cancer cells.
• Lymph nodes have not enlarged and can only be seen under a microscope.
• Your melanoma does not have ulceration and has not spread to other parts of the body.
• If using the TNM stage, then T1-T4a, N1a, M0, and T1-T4a, N2a, M0.

Stage 3B

• Your melanoma appears as an open wound and has spread between one to three lymph nodes near the cancer cell. However, the lymph nodes do not enlarge and the cancer cells can only be seen under a microscope.
• Your melanoma is not an open wound and has spread to one to three nearby lymph nodes. Because of this, the lymph glands can also become enlarged or swollen.
• Your melanoma is not ulcerated. The cancer cells have spread to the skin or lymphatic tract (lymph), but nearby lymph nodes do not contain melanoma cancer cells.
• If using TNM stadium, then T1-4b, N1a, M0. T1-4b, N2a, M0. T1-4a, N1b, M0. T1-4a, N2b, M0. T1-4a, N2c, M0.

Stage 3C

• Your lymph nodes already contain melanoma cells, and there are melanoma cells in the skin or lymph channels that are close to the main melanoma.
• Your melanoma is ulcerated and has spread between one to three lymph nodes nearby and has swollen.
• Your melanoma may be ulcerated and has spread to four or more nearby lymph nodes.
• Your melanoma may be ulcerated and has spread to the lymph nodes.
• If using TNM stadium, then T1-4b, N1b, M0. T1-4b, N2b, M0. T1-4b, N2c, M0.

4. Stage 4 melanoma

In stage 4, your melanoma has entered the highest stage of melanoma stage. Melanoma cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. The organs that usually spread the melanoma cancer cells are:

• lung
• heart
• bone
• brain
• stomach