Read article The stages of skin cancer
This page tells you about the stages of skin cancer and how they are worked out. There is information about
Stages of skin cancer
The stage of a cancer tells the doctor how far it has spread. This is important because treatment is often decided according to the stage of a cancer. Most basal cell cancers do not need staging because it is very rare for them to spread. Staging is more likely to be done for squamous cell cancers because spread is possible.
The TNM staging system
Doctors use a staging system that is common to all cancers. It is called the TNM system. The T indicates the size of the tumour. The N shows whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. The M (metastasis) shows whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
The number system
Once the TNM categories (types) have all been decided, the information is put together to give a number stage of 0 to 4. These are the main points
- Stage 0 – the cancer is only in the top layer of skin
- Stage 1 – the cancer is 2cm or less across and has not spread
- Stage 2 – the cancer is more than 2cm across and has not spread
- Stage 3 – the cancer has spread to the tissues under the skin and possibly to nearby lymph nodes
- Stage 4 – the cancer has spread to another part of the body
Squamous cell stage 0 is also called Bowen’s disease. The cells have started to become cancerous. But it is very early. Your doctor may describe this as pre cancerous or pre malignant. If it is not treated, Bowen's disease can develop into a squamous cell skin cancer.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the Treating skin cancer section.
The stage of a cancer tells the doctor how far it has spread. This is important because treatment is often decided according to the stage of a cancer.
Your doctor may carry out a number of tests to stage your cancer. But most basal cell cancers do not need staging because it is very rare for them to spread. They will only be staged if they are very large. Although it is rare for squamous cell cancers to spread, staging is more likely to be done for these because spread is possible.
Doctors use a staging system that is common to all cancers. It is called the TNM system
- The T indicates the size of the tumour
- The N shows whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
- The M shows whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body (metastasis)
There is more about staging in the about Cancer section of CancerHelp UK.
Once the TNM categories (types) have all been decided, the information is put together to give a number stage of 0 to 4. The lower the stage, the earlier the cancer has been diagnosed. The main points of the stages are
- Stage 0 ̶̶ the cancer is only in the top layer of skin (the epidermis)
- Stage 1 ̶̶ the cancer is 2cm or less across and has not spread
- Stage 2 ̶̶ the cancer is more than 2cm across and has not spread
- Stage 3 ̶̶ the cancer has spread to the tissues under the skin and possibly to nearby lymph nodes
- Stage 4 ̶̶ the cancer has spread to another part of the body
Squamous cell stage 0 is also called Bowen’s disease. This stage is also called a carcinoma in situ. Carcinoma means there are cancer cells there. In situ means in the cells are in the place where they started to develop. So the cells have started to turn into cancer. But they have not yet spread or grown into surrounding areas of skin. If it is not treated, Bowen's disease can develop into a squamous cell skin cancer. So your doctor may describe this stage of skin cancer as pre cancerous or pre malignant.
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