Skin Cancer

First, a dermatologist may ask you if you’ve noticed changes in any existing moles, freckles or other skin spots, or if you’ve noticed any new skin growths. Next, they’ll examine all of your skin, including your scalp, ears, palms of your hands, soles of your feet, between your toes, around your genitals and between your buttocks.

What tests will be done to diagnose skin cancer?

If your provider suspects skin cancer, they may perform a biopsy. In a biopsy, a sample of tissue is removed and sent to a laboratory where a pathologist examines it under a microscope. Your dermatologist will tell you if your skin lesion is skin cancer, what type you have and discuss treatment options.

What are skin cancer stages?

Cancer stages tell you how much cancer is in your body. The stages of skin cancer range from stage 0 to stage IV. In general, the higher the number, the more cancer has spread and the harder it is to treat. But the staging for melanoma is different from non-melanoma skin cancers that start in your basal or squamous cells.

Melanoma staging

• Stage 0 (melanoma in situ): The melanoma is only in the top layer of your skin.
• Stage I: The melanoma is low risk and there’s no evidence that it has spread. It’s generally curable with surgery.
• Stage II: It has some features that indicate that it’s likely to come back (recur), but there’s no evidence of spread.
• Stage III: The melanoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes or nearby skin.
• Stage IV: The melanoma has spread to more distant lymph nodes or skin, or has spread to internal organs.

Non-melanoma staging

• Stage 0: Cancer is only in the top layer of your skin.
• Stage I (1): Cancer is in the top and middle layers of your skin.
• Stage II (2): Cancer is in the top and middle layers of your skin and moves to target your nerves or deeper layers of skin.
• Stage III (3): Cancer has spread beyond your skin to your lymph nodes.
• Stage IIIV (4): Cancer has spread to other parts of your body and your organs like your liver, lungs or brain.