What does melanoma look like when it spreads?
This mole may be asymmetrical, have an uneven border, have an inconsistent color, be large or change over time. A melanoma may also appear as a sore or itchy bump, a tender nodule or a patch of skin that is scaly or bleeding.
How quickly does metastatic melanoma spread?
How fast does melanoma spread and grow to local lymph nodes and other organs? “Melanoma can grow extremely quickly and can become life-threatening in as little as six weeks,” noted Dr. Duncanson. “If left untreated, melanoma begins to spread, advancing its stage and worsening the prognosis.”
What are the most common sites for the melanoma to metastasize?
The most common clinically apparent sites of distant metastases in melanoma patients are: skin, lung, brain, liver, bone, and intestine [48]. Metastasis to lung is common and often the first clinically apparent site of visceral metastasis.
How long can you live with metastatic melanoma?
The average life expectancy for a stage IV melanoma patient is 6-22 months.
How do you know if melanoma has spread to lymph nodes?
The most common symptom if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes is that they feel hard or swollen. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck area can make it hard to swallow. Cancer cells can also stop lymph fluid from draining away. This might lead to swelling in the neck or face due to fluid buildup in that area.
How do you know if melanoma has metastasized?
Symptoms
- Hardened lumps under your skin.
- Swollen or painful lymph nodes.
- Trouble breathing, or a cough that doesn’t go away.
- Swelling of your liver (under your lower right ribs) or loss of appetite.
- Bone pain or, less often, broken bones.
- Headaches, seizures, or weakness or numbness in your arms or legs.
- Weight loss.
- Fatigue.
What stage of melanoma represents a disease that has reached a lymph node but not spread distantly?
In general, a stage 1 melanoma has grown deeper into the skin but hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. With stage 1A melanoma, the cancer isn’t more than 1 mm thick, with or without ulceration.
What tests are used to diagnose metastatic melanoma?
biopsy
What is the prognosis for metastatic melanoma?
For stage 1 (thin melanoma, local only), five-year survival is near 100%. For stage 2 (thicker melanoma, local only), five-year survival is 80%-90%. (The reason for reduced survival rate is that even if the primary skin tumor has been completely removed, it had already metastasized by the time surgery was performed.)
What are the goals of treatment for metastatic melanoma?
Prevention of metastasis