Is Stage 3 Melanoma Indicative Of Cancer Spreading To Other Tissues?

Posted on Mon, 21 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 21 Sep 2015 Answered on

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I was diagnosed with Stage III Melanoma in the top left side of my back, which spread. Being as stubborn as I am I did not ask to many questions, considering out of the 6 family members I had that passed away they have all passed away from Cancer. I hope this is not a ridiculous question but, meaning that it did spread to tissue and not Lymph Node?

Answered by Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Proper clinical review to ascertain degree of spread. Important for treatme

Detailed Answer:
hi and thanks for the query

it is always the rule in patients diagnosed with stage III melanoma for the lymph nodes to be checked . treatment protocol depends so much on this. depending on the number of lymph nodes touched , an adapted treatment course is chosen . few lymph nodes mean better prognosis and at times can call for lymph node removal. when too many lymph nodes are involved, removing them might not be very helpful and resorting to radiation therapy and chemotherapy could be key treatment options in this case.

I suggest your doctor needs to do a proper clinical review, to properly identify and quantify the degree of spread if any to the lymph nodes.

a clinical review remains capital to identify other tissues where it might have spread to. melanomas easily spread and at stage III other tissues certainly have been attained most of the time including the lymph nodes.

thanks and kind regards as I wish you the best of health.

Dr Bain

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D