The TNM system Doctors use a staging system called TNM , where they consider three factors to stage cancer:
T Tumor thickness, which means how deep the cancer has grown into the skin in millimeters, also known as the Breslow thickness. The T category will also include if the tumor is ulcerated (broken skin), which means if there are cells in the center of the tumor that are dying and peeling away. This can be a sign that the tumor is growing quickly.
N M
Nearby lymph nodes, which means if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Metastasis, which means if the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as an organ like the liver, lungs, brain or lymph nodes far from where cancer first developed ( primary tumor location ).
Tumor is more than 2 mm but not more than 4 mm
Melanoma
2 mm
5 mm
2 mm 3 mm 4 mm
Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous tissue
2019 Terese Winslow LLC US Govt. has certain rights.
6 Melanoma Patient and Caregiver Guide | Stages 2–3
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