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What is staging for melanoma and how does it affect treatment?
Staging tells doctors how serious melanoma is. It helps your care team plan your treatment. Melanoma is the most serious skin cancer.
Staging is how your care team describes how serious melanoma is, and it helps guide your treatment plan.
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Doctors group melanoma into different stages. Surgery is the first treatment used for every stage of melanoma. Other treatments may depend on the stage. They can include chemotherapy, radiation, biologic therapy, or targeted therapy. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.
Treatment is more likely to work well when skin cancer is found early. If skin cancer is not treated, some types can spread. They can reach other tissues and organs.
Your care team will explain your stage. They will talk with you about treatment options.
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This page is educational, not medical advice. Talk with your care team about decisions that apply to you. If something feels urgent, contact your care team — for emergencies call your local emergency number.
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