Overview
Stage 3 Melanoma is divided into Stage 3A, Stage 3B, Stage 3C and 3D. The sub-stage depends upon how and where the cancer has spread to beyond your skin.
Understanding your Stage 3 Melanoma Cancer diagnosis will help you partner with your doctors to make the best treatment choice for you. Tap “Watch Now” and for an easy-to-understand overview of Stage 3 Melanoma.
- Stage 3 Melanoma
Overview
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A Stage 3 Melanoma diagnosis means that the cancer has spread beyond the skin into your closest lymph nodes. See the point (a) on the image.
In some cases, Stage 3 Melanoma can also mean that the tumor has formed small nodes under the skin around it. Those nodes are called “Satellite” or “In-transit” nodes, depending upon how close or how far they are from where the Melanoma was first found.
Your specific stage, 3A, 3B, 3C or 3D will be assigned to the cancer by your Dr. depending upon how the cancer in your lymph nodes was diagnosed, the number of affected lymph nodes and the presence or absence of Satellite or In-Transit nodes on or under your skin.
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 and BRAF mutation, which is critical to finding the best treatment option for you. BRAF mutation is present in 40-60% of all melanoma patients.
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
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Commonly Searched Questions
Stage 3 Melanoma survival rate.
The five-year survival rate for stage 3 melanoma is 70.6%. That means 70.6% of people diagnosed with the disease are alive five years later.
Source: Cancer.gov
Stage 3 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 3 Melanoma treatment.
The typical treatment approach for stage 3 melanoma is a wide excision surgery to remove the primary tumor, as well as a dissection to remove the lymph node(s). Following surgery, further treatment may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, or radiation therapy.
Source: Mountsinai.org
Stage 3 Melanoma adjuvant therapy.
Adjuvant therapy is an extra treatment you get after surgery to lower the chance that your cancer will come back. Adjuvant therapy for stage 3 melanoma often includes immunotherapy.
Source: Healthline.com
Does Stage 3 Melanoma require chemotherapy?
No, chemotherapy is not a treatment option for Stage 3 Melanoma.
Source: Curemelanoma.org
