In determining the severity of melanoma, health professionals have devised various methods for staging the cancer. The criteria used for defining the stages include how thick and deep the melanoma is (called Breslow's classification), and how far the melanoma has spread (known as Clark's classification). The higher the stage, the thicker the lesion and the farther the cancer has spread; consequently, the worse the long-term outcome.
The stages are as follows:
Stage I. Stage I melanoma is less than 1.5 millimeters thick and is localized to one area of the epidermis or upper dermis. These lesions are surgically removed and cure rates are excellent, since they are least likely to have spread
Stage II. Stage II melanoma is 1.5 to 4 millimeters thick, has spread to the deeper layers of the skin, but does not appear to have infiltrated nearby lymph nodes. Stage II melanoma can be cured, but the success rate lags behind that of Stage I melanoma, because a small number of cancer cells may have escaped from the original lesion and seeded distant sites. In addition to surgery, other forms of therapy may be performed.
Stage III and IV. Stage III and IV melanomas have the lowest chance of cure, although various forms of treatment can provide benefit. A Stage III lesion is more than 4 millimeters thick or has spread to the areas beyond the skin or to nearby lymph nodes. Additional melanomas on the skin surrounding the original lesion may be present. Patients with cancer that has metastasized only to nearby lymph nodes have a higher chance of survival than if they have disease that has spread to distant sites.
Stage IV melanoma has spread (metastasized) via the lymph node system, bloodstream, or both to other parts of the body. The lungs and liver are common sites of metastasis; other sites are the brain, bones, and other internal organs.
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Malignant melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. The incidence of melanoma is increasing worldwide. Although patients with Stage I disease have a survival rate of 90%, patients in the study population with advanced Stage III and IV disease have an expected long-term survival of less than 20%.
Unlike most skin cancer, melanoma is potentially deadly because it may metastasize (spread) to many other places in the body. The incidence of melanoma is rising rapidly, and is usually directly linked to sun exposure. Though anyone can develop melanoma, it's more common among people with fair skin and light eyes, and those with a history of sunburn in their youth. Melanoma may appear as a new growth, or as a change in the size, shape, or color of an existing mole. If a new mole appears, or an old one itches, bleeds, grows, or changes in any way, it should be checked by a doctor.
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Melanoma means "black tumor"
Black is the color of the warrior's mood when going into battle and the melanoma
patient is in the battle for life
Black is our rage when we consider the lack of progress and lack of research funding going on after 25 years of the so-called "War On Cancer"