What is the survival rate for people with this type of cancer?

Stage IA

In thickness, the melanoma is less than 1.0 mm. It is not ulcerated and has a mitotic rate of less than 1/mm2. It is not found in lymph nodes or any distant organs.

The 5-year survival rate is around 97%. The 10-year survival is around 95%.

Stage IB

In thickness, the melanoma is less than 1.0 mm. It is ulcerated or either has a mitotic rate of at least 1/mm2. For this stage, the melanoma can lie between 1.01 and 2.0 mm and is not ulcerated. It is not found in lymph nodes or any distant organs.

The 5-year survival rate is around 92%. The 10-year survival is around 86%.

Stage IIA

In thickness, the melanoma is between 1.01 mm and 2.0 mm and is ulcerated, or the other way round, it falls between 2.01 and 4.0 mm but is not ulcerated. It is not found in lymph nodes or any distant organs.

The 5-year survival rate is around 81%. The 10-year survival is around 67%.

Stage IIB

The melanoma grows until between 2.01 mm and 4.0 mm in thickness and is ulcerated. It is thicker than 4.0 mm but is not ulcerated. It is not found in lymph nodes or distant organs.

The 5-year survival rate is around 70%. The 10-year survival is around 57%.

Stage IIC

In thickness, the melanoma is thicker than 4.0 mm and is ulcerated. It is not found in lymph nodes or any distant organs.

The 5-year survival rate is around 53%. The 10-year survival is around 40%.

Stage IIIA

The melanoma found can be of any thickness, however, it is not ulcerated. It has spread from at least 1 to 3 lymph nodes around the affected skin area, but the nodes are not enlarged. The melanoma is found only when they are checked under microscope. There is no sign of distant spread.

The 5-year survival rate is around 78%. The 10-year survival is around 68%.

Stage IIIB

Any of the following applies:

The melanoma found can be of any thickness, however, it is not ulcerated. It has spread from at least 1 to 3 lymph nodes around the affected skin area. The nodes are enlarged due to the melanoma. There is no sign of distant spread.

The melanoma found can be of any thickness, however, it is not ulcerated. It has spread to small areas of nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor, but the nodes do not contain melanoma. There is no sign of distant spread.

The 5-year survival rate is around 59%. The 10-year survival is around 43%.

Stage IIIC

The melanoma can be of any thickness and might or might not be ulcerated. It has spread to 4 or even more nearby lymph nodes. It has spread to nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor and to nearby lymph nodes. The nodes are enlarged due to the melanoma. There is no sign of distant spread.

The 5-year survival rate is around 40%. The 10-year survival is around 24%.

Stage IV

The melanoma has spread over the original area of skin and nearby lymph nodes to other major organs like the liver, lungs or brain. The spread to distant areas of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, or distant lymph nodes is also considered in this stage.

The 5-year survival rate for stage IV melanoma is about 15% to 20%. The 10-year survival is about 10% to 15%.