Staging
Further context on cancer staging is available at TNM.
Also of importance are the "
Clark level" and "
Breslow's depth" which refer to the microscopic depth of tumor invasion.
[22]
Melanoma stages:
[23]
Stage 0: Melanoma in Situ (Clark Level I), 99.9% Survival
Stage I/II: Invasive Melanoma, 85-99% Survival
- T1a: Less than 1.00 mm primary tumor thickness, w/o Ulceration and mitosis < 1/mm2
- T1b: Less than 1.00 mm primary tumor thickness, w/Ulceration or mitoses ≥ 1/mm2
- T2a: 1.00-2.00 mm primary tumor thickness, w/o Ulceration
Stage II: High Risk Melanoma, 40-85% Survival
- T2b: 1.00-2.00 mm primary tumor thickness, w/ Ulceration
- T3a: 2.00-4.00 mm primary tumor thickness, w/o Ulceration
- T3b: 2.00-4.00 mm primary tumor thickness, w/ Ulceration
- T4a: 4.00 mm or greater primary tumor thickness w/o Ulceration
- T4b: 4.00 mm or greater primary tumor thickness w/ Ulceration <<<<< Wife Pennie
Stage III: Regional Metastasis, 25-60% Survival
- N1: Single Positive Lymph Node
- N2: 2-3 Positive Lymph Nodes OR Regional Skin/In-Transit Metastasis
- N3: 4 Positive Lymph Nodes OR Lymph Node and Regional Skin/In Transit Metastases
Stage IV: Distant Metastasis, 9-15% Survival
- M1a: Distant Skin Metastasis, Normal LDH
- M1b: Lung Metastasis, Normal LDH
- M1c: Other Distant Metastasis OR Any Distant Metastasis with Elevated LDH
Based Upon AJCC 5-Year Survival With Proper Treatment
Wife has Stage 2 Level 4 and goes back to Cancer Center for Pet ScanStage II: High Risk Melanoma, 40-85% Survival
Info on Pet Scan vs Cat Scan
Pet Scan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_scan
Cat Scan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_scan