Stage II melanoma, the cancer cells are both the first and second layer of your skin, the epidermis and dermis. Unfortunately the melanoma is at higher risk, than if you were in Stage I. This is based off of the depth of tumor or the ulceration. In Stage II, there is no evidence that the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or spread to distant sites (metastasized). This is exactly where I was, Stage IIA. After my wide excision was (WLE) done, we went ahead with a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) both of which were a couple weeks of recovery. The SLNB, for me, was painful because I had an allergic reaction to the derma bond. It was awful (see photo). After 4 weeks, and a second opinion, I was diagnosed Stage IIA malignant melanoma.
Stage II melanoma is typically localized melanoma, meaning, it hasn’t spread past the primary tumor. I thought mine hadn’t spread and I was told my melanoma, hasn’t spread, after my SLNB.
So, in Stage II, there are three subgroups: IIA, IIB, and IIC.
Stage IIA, that’s me: 9mm deep, the tumor is: 1 to 2mm thick, with ulceration. Or the tumor is 2 to 4mm thick, without ulceration. There is no evidence of spread to nearby lymph nodes. There is no evidence of metastasis to distant sites.
Stage IIB: The tumor is 2 to 4 mm thick, with ulceration, OR tumor is greater than 4mm thick, without ulceration. There is no evidence of spread to nearby lymph nodes. There is no evidence of metastasis to distant sites.
Stage IIC: The tumor is greater than 4mm thick, with ulceration. There is no evidence of spread to nearby lymph nodes. There is no evidence of metastasis to distant sites.
*Risk: doing treatment in Stage II, is considered medium to high risk, for local recurrence or for regional and distant metastases.
Facts: AIMatMelanoma + my story
