8:30 AM
Karthikh Venkat
Even if you currently do not have skin cancer, it is still important to know the stages of melanoma. With reports that the Earth's ozone layer is thinning and increased radiation, skin cancer is becoming more and more prevalent. If you know what to expect, you can be on the lookout for tell-tale marks; you will be that much more prepared if you are diagnosed with the condition and learn of where you fall within the stages of melanoma. The earlier a person starts cancer treatment, the better their chances of beating melanoma and other skin cancers.
The following stages of melanoma are defined by the size of the tumor and how far the cancer has spread. The stage of a tumor is generally defined after a doctor has examined the infected area and performed a biopsy.
Stage 0 is the least damaging or severe stage of skin cancer. This stage means that the abnormal cells are only on the outer layer of skin. This is good, as it means the cells have not spread to deeper tissue.
Stage I means that the abnormal cells are present both on the outer layer of skin and in the inner layer of skin called the dermis. This type of skin cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes and is less than 1.5 millimeters thick.
tage II's tumor is larger than 1.5 millimeters thick and has spread to the inner and lower pieces of the dermis skin layer. However, this tumor has not yet spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage III means that the cancer has spread deep into the skin and is near the lymph nodes.
Stage IV is when the cancer has spread to the body's organs and to the lymph nodes. What this means is that the skin cancer has spread far from the point of origin. Stopping the cancer from spreading at this point is incredibly difficult.
