Treatment of Stage II Melanoma

 

Stage II melanoma is cancer that is 1 to 2 millimeters thick with ulceration or greater than 2 millimeters with or without ulceration (a break in the surface of the tumor). Stage II melanoma has spread to the inner layer of skin (dermis), but not into the tissue below the dermis or into nearby lymph nodes.

In stage II melanoma that has been identified by tumor biopsy, a lymph node biopsy is usually also performed to confirm the diagnosis. The sentinel node biopsy is typically done at the same time as the tumor biopsy. For this stage of melanoma, the biopsy usually also serves as the treatment—a single procedure combines removal of the tumor with the biopsy.

Stage II melanomas that have not ulcerated, have a cure rate (survival for 5 years or more) of up to 79 percent. Those that show ulceration have a 5-year survival rate of about 45 percent.

This content was last modified on June 22, 2007 .
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