Melanoma is a form of skin cancer, and stage 2 melanoma is the third stage of development of the cancer. Types of cancer are "staged" according to how widespread the cancer is. In the case of melanoma, staging depends on how deep within the skin the tumor is, how large the tumor itself is, and whether the cancer has spread through the skin to other parts of the body. Melanoma starts in the cells that make melanin, which is the protective pigment that gives skin color. By the time it reaches stage 2, the melanoma has spread from the epidermis (the top layer of skin) to deep within the dermis (the middle layer of skin) and into the underlying fat and tissue. Stage 2 melanoma may be treatable with a combination of surgery and other treatments.
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