PROFESSIONAL FAQS: WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF SURVIVING MELANOMA?

Expert opinion from Venata Subhash Sagar Tatabhatla

MBBS · 4 years of experience · India

Malignant melanoma survival rates depend upon staging of the disease. Stage 1 has a 5-year survival rate of around 95%. Stage 2a and 2b has a 5-year survival rate of 70-80%, whereas stage 2c has a rate of 50%. Most of the stage 3 has a 5-year survival rate of about 40-50%. Stage 4 has a very bad prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of 10-20%.

Expert opinion from Howard E. Lewine

M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA

The thickness of the tumor is the most important factor in determining whether it can be treated. Tumors on the skin's surface usually can be cured. Deeper cancers are more difficult to treat. Melanoma that has spread to a lymph node or other parts of the body have a worse prognosis.

Expert opinion from Alex T. Thomas

MD · 40 years of experience · USA

Melanoma is treatable in the early stages, but at stage 4 it's purely non-treatable. It starts with black moles in the skin and at this stage survival chances are up to 90 %, but as soon as the disease progress and the treatment is delayed the survival rate decreases.

→ Learn more about melanoma: See the causes, symptoms, treatment options and more.

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Disclaimer: This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

2024-04-28T00:11:08Z dg43tfdfdgfd