Overview
Melanoma is a disease in which cancer cells form in melanocytes, the cells that color your skin. Stage 1 Melanoma is divided into Stage 1A and Stage 1B. The Stage depends upon the cancer’s depth and the amount of breakdown of your skin.
Understanding your Stage 1 Melanoma diagnosis will help you partner with your doctors to make the best treatment choice for you. Tap “Watch Now” for an easy-to-understand overview of Stage 1 Melanoma.
- Stage 1A Melanoma
- Stage 1B Melanoma
Overview
When diagnosed with Stage 1A Melanoma, the tumor is less than 0.8 millimeters deep without a breakdown of your skin, as seen here in the left image. A breakdown of the skin is called an ulcer.
The cancer at this early stage has not spread to your lymph nodes or other organs in your body.
What Tests Will I Need and Why?
Blood and Imaging tests are done to understand your general health, confirm your diagnosis and determine your cancer stage.
Tissue analysis is also typically done to identify the cancer cell type, which is critical to finding the best treatment option for you.
If your treatment team has not already performed tests to determine your cancer’s features, please ask your doctor when these tests will be performed.
Re-read this summary as needed and then tap, “Compare My Treatment Options Now“. Our unique Comparison Page will help you understand your FDA-approved treatment options including, who can help you pay for your treatment, where and how each is given and what side-effects you may experience.
National Institute of Health/ treatment-melanoma
Overview
A Stage 1B Melanoma Diagnosis means that:
1. The tumor is less than 0.8 millimeters deep with an ulcer or breakdown of your skin, but is not yet affecting your lymph nodes or any other organs in your body. or
2. The tumor is 0.8-1.0 millimeters deep with or without an ulcer, and is not affecting your lymph nodes or any other organs in your body,
or
3. The tumor is 1.0-2.0 millimeters deep without an ulcer, without affecting lymph nodes or other organs. You can see in the right image however, in Stage 1B Melanoma, the cancer may reach the dermis layer of your skin, shown here in light pink.
What Tests Will I Need and Why?
Blood and Imaging tests are done to understand your general health, confirm your diagnosis and determine your cancer stage.
Tissue analysis is also typically done to identify the cancer cell type, which is critical to finding the best treatment option for you.
If your treatment team has not already performed tests to determine your cancer’s features, please ask your doctor when these tests will be performed.
Re-read this summary as needed and then tap, “Compare My Treatment Options Now“. Our unique Comparison Page will help you understand your FDA-approved treatment options including, who can help you pay for your treatment, where and how each is given and what side-effects you may experience.
National Institute of Health/ treatment-melanoma
Commonly Searched Questions
Stage 1 Melanoma treatment.
Surgery is the best treatment option for Stage 1 Melanoma. Some doctors may recommend doing a sentinel node biopsy as well.
Source: Cancer.org
Stage 1 Melanoma survival rate.
The five-year survival rate for stage 1 melanoma is 99%. That means 99% of people diagnosed with the disease are alive five years later.
Source: Cancer.gov
Stage 1 Melanoma symptoms.
Look for anything new, changing, or unusual on your skin, especially new moles. The ABCDE can help you detect Melanoma.
- A for asymmetry
- B for borders (uneven)
- C for color (multiple colors in one mole)
- D for diameter (larger than 6mm)
- E for evolving (size, shape, color, elevation of a spot on your skin)
Source: Skincancer.org
Stage 1 Melanoma incidence.
Melanoma accounts for about 1% of all skin cancers diagnosed in the United States, but it causes most of the deaths from skin cancer.
Source: Cancer.net
Stage 1 Melanoma definition.
Stage 1 Melanoma means that there are tumor cells in both the epidermis and dermis. It also means that the tumor is up to 2mm thick or deep and may or may not have ulcers.
Source: AimatMelanoma.org