Stage 3 Melanoma

Stage 3 Melanoma - Important Information You Should Know

Is stage 3 melanoma something you should know about? If you're in any of the risk groups for skin cancer, the answer is yes. Stage 3 melanoma is one of the more serious types of skin cancer out there.

We want to avoid getting it if possible. If we can't avoid that, we need to know everything we can about it. This type of skin cancer is more difficult to cure than less serious stages, and could advance to become deadly.

Here's what you should know about this type of melanoma. Remember - the more you know, the better you can protect your health.

Characteristics of Stage 3 Melanoma

Stage 3 tumors have spread past the upper layers of skin. They've reached lymph nodes in the same area of the tumor, but there's no sign that they have infected distant parts of the body. That's why this type of melanoma isn't called a metastatic cancer yet.

But that doesn't mean that it's not dangerous. Cancers can quickly spread via the lymph nodes. People who have had stage 3 disease are at a higher risk for having their tumor come back after treatment.

There are several different sub-types of stage 3 cancer, according to malignant melanoma symptoms. These are based on the number of lymph nodes that have become cancerous, and whether the tumors in them are large or small. The cancer is also considered to be more advanced if the main tumor is ulcerated, like a sore that won't heal. Here are the sub-stages of this kind of melanoma:

• Stage 3a - Tumor is not ulcerated and is between 1 mm and 4 mm thick. The cancer has not spread to distant sites and has only spread to 1-3 nearby lymph nodes. Lymph node tumors are tiny.
• Stage 3b - The tumor is not ulcerated and is between 1 and 4 mm thick and is found in one to three nearby lymph nodes. It hasn't spread to other parts of the body, but may be in the process of doing this. Lymph node tumors are bigger.
• Stage 3c - The tumor may be ulcerated and may be more than 4 mm thick. Tumors in nearby lymph nodes are larger. Four or more lymph nodes may be cancerous, and some may be metastatic. The cancer may be in the process of spreading to areas far away from the original cancer.

Melanoma Stage 3 Cancer Treatments

So what can we do about stage 3 skin cancer? This kind of tumor is much more serious than the earlier stages. That doesn't mean it can't be treated, though. There are still some things we can do to help people with this type of cancer recover.

While the chances of getting better aren't as good, that doesn't mean that we should lose hope. It's important to act fast, since the cancer can get worse. The prognosis for metastatic malignant melanoma isn't a good one.

Surgery is usually used for tumors that are easy to remove and when patients have few in-transit tumors. The surgeon will remove the tumor, plus extra skin around it. This keeps the tumor from coming back.

Stage 3 tumors are often large. This can make surgery tricky, but we have ways of removing less skin than we used to. This can help people have smaller scars and more normal lives after surgery.

If there is cancer in the lymph nodes the surgeon might need to remove those also. Usually the doctor will need to remove even lymph nodes that aren't cancerous. This keeps them from spreading the disease further. Some people will also get immune treatment to help their bodies fight disease, and experimental vaccines that might help keep cancer from coming back. Sometimes, radiation is used, too.

Knowing about stage 3 skin cancer can help us make intelligent choices. If we know what the terms our doctors use mean, we have a better chance of deciding on the right treatment. Take the time to learn about stage 3 tumors, even if you don't have melanoma. It could help you in the future.

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