STAGE III MELANOMA

The tumor may be of any thickness, with or without ulceration, and may have spread to 1 or more nearby lymph nodes. Stage III is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC.In stage IIIA, the cancer may have spread to as many as 3 nearby lymph nodes, but can be seen only with a microscope. In stage IIIB, the cancer has spread to as many as 3 lymph nodes and may not be visible without a microscope, or has satellite tumors (additional tumor growths within 1 inch of the original tumor) and has not spread to lymph nodes. In stage IIIC, the cancer either has spread to as many as 4 or more lymph nodes and can be seen without a microscope, or has lymph nodes that may not be moveable, or has satellite tumors and may have spread to lymph nodes.