Stages of Skin Cancer: Stages 0-IV

 

In most cases, nonmelanoma skin cancer is confined to the skin and is easily treated and cured. If skin cancer has spread, then your doctor will want to know the extent or stage of the skin cancer.

 

The stage is based on the size of the tumor and whether cancer has spread beyond the tumor. Most nonmelanoma skin cancers are Stage 0 or Stage I. Stage III and IV are relatively rare.

 

The following stages are used for nonmelanoma skin cancer:

Stage 0
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IV.

 

- Stage 0 Skin Cancer (Carcinoma in Situ)

In stage 0 skin cancer, cancer is found only in the epidermis (the topmost layer of the skin), which is the layer of cells in which the cancer began. Stage 0 cancer is also called carcinoma in situ.

- Stage I Skin Cancer

In stage I skin cancer, the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. It involves both the epidermis and the dermis. Cancer does not invade the muscle, cartilage, or bone and it has not spread to lymph nodes or other organs.

 

- Stage II Skin Cancer

In stage II skin cancer, the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters. It involves both the epidermis and the dermis. Cancer does not invade the muscle, cartilage, or bone and it has not spread outside the skin.

- Stage III Skin Cancer

In stage III skin cancer, cancer has spread below the skin to cartilage, muscle, or bone and/or to nearby lymph nodes, but it has not spread to distant organs.

- Stage IV Skin Cancer

In stage IV skin cancer, the cancer can be any size and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. It has also spread to areas outside the skin , such as to distant organs like the brain or lungs.

 

 

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