What happens if melanoma is caught too late?

If melanoma is caught and treated early, it also responds very well to treatment. However, when it is not treated early, it can advance and spread to other parts of the body and can be fatal. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, over 7,000 people will die from melanoma this year alone.

5-year relative survival rates for melanoma skin cancer

There are patients who survive Stage IV melanoma long-term. The survival prognosis is better if the melanoma has spread only to distant parts of the skin or distant lymph nodes rather than to other organs, and if the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level is normal.

However, melanoma can quickly grow beyond the surface of the skin, and when it does, it can reach the lymphatic vessels, which carry the cancer cells to distant parts of the body. Blood vessels can also carry cancer cells. Melanoma is most likely to spread to the lungs, bones, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and brain.

But if left untreated, melanoma Can have deadly consequences. This type of skin cancer is one of the most aggressive — it spreads at an alarming rate throughout the body. In as little as six weeks, melanoma could threaten your life because it has spread from your skin to other organs and tissues throughout your body.

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.”

Normally, the first place a melanoma tumor metastasizes to is the Lymph nodes, by literally draining melanoma cells into the lymphatic fluid, which carries the melanoma cells through the lymphatic channels to the nearest lymph node basin.

The average life expectancy for a stage IV melanoma patient is 6-22 months.

Prognosis: Stage IV melanoma is very difficult to cure as it has already spread to other parts of the body. However, a small number of people respond well to treatment, achieve No Evidence of Disease (NED), and survive for many years following diagnosis.

If the melanoma spreads to the digestive system, it can cause: pain in the tummy (abdomen) a change in bowel function (constipation or diarrhoea) Sickness (vomiting)

Approximately 4 percent Of people are diagnosed with melanomas that have spread to distant parts of the body, according to the ASCO. This is the most advanced stage of metastatic melanoma.

Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in As little as 6 weeks And, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun. Nodular melanoma is a highly dangerous form of melanoma that looks different from common melanomas.

Prognosis for Stage 3 Melanoma: With appropriate treatment, Stage III melanoma is considered intermediate to high risk for recurrence or metastasis. With all melanoma, the earlier it is detected and treated, the better. The 5-year survival rate as of 2018 for regional melanoma (Stage III) is 63.6%.

Tips to Reduce Your Risk for Melanoma:

1. Never Intentionally Expose Your Skin to the Sun. There is no such thing as a ‘healthy’ tan.
2. Wear Sunscreen. Make sunscreen a daily habit. …
3. Wear Protective Clothing. …
4. Avoid Peak Rays. …
5. Don’t Use Tanning Beds. …
6. Protect Children.

Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, develops in the cells (melanocytes) that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin its color. Melanoma can also form in your eyes and, rarely, inside your body, such as in your nose or throat.

Thicker melanomas, Greater than 4.0 mm, have a very high risk of spreading, and any ulceration can move the disease into a higher subcategory of stage II. Because of that risk, the doctor may recommend more aggressive treatment.

This means 92 of every 100 people diagnosed with melanoma will be alive in 5 years. In the very early stages the 5-year survival rate is 99%. Once melanoma has spread to the lymph nodes the 5-year survival rate is 63%. If melanoma spreads to other parts of the body, the 5-year survival drops to just 20%.