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stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer on the head and neck (not on the eyelid)

(… non-MEH-luh-NOH-muh skin KAN-ser ...)
One of the following is found: (1) the tumor is any size and cancer may have spread to the bone and the bone has minor damage, or to tissue covering the nerves below the dermis, or below the subcutaneous tissue. Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes as follows: (a) one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the affected node is 3 centimeters or smaller, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (b) one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the affected node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters, and cancer has not spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (c) more than one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the affected nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller, and cancer has not spread through to the outside covering of the lymph nodes; or (d) one or more lymph nodes on the opposite side of the body as the tumor or on both sides of the body, the affected nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller, and cancer has not spread through to the outside covering of the lymph nodes; OR (2) the tumor is any size and cancer may have spread to tissue covering the nerves below the dermis, or below the subcutaneous tissue, or to bone marrow or to bone, including the bottom of the skull, and one of the following is found: (a) cancer has spread to one lymph node that is larger than 6 centimeters and cancer has not spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (b) cancer has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the affected node is larger than 3 centimeters, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (c) cancer has spread to one lymph node on the opposite side of the body as the tumor, the affected node is any size, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (d) cancer has spread to more than one lymph node on one or both sides of the body and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph nodes; OR (3) the tumor is any size and cancer has spread to bone marrow or to bone, including the bottom of the skull, and the bone has been damaged. Cancer may have also spread to the lymph nodes; OR (4) cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lung.
More Information
Stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck (1); drawing shows a primary tumor on the face and cancer that has spread to: (a) one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the node is 3 centimeters or smaller, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; (b) one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor and the node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters; (c) more than one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor and the nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller; and (d) one or more lymph nodes on the opposite or both sides of the body as the tumor and the nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller. Also shown is a 10-centimeter ruler and a 4-inch ruler.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck (1). The tumor is any size. Cancer may have spread to the bone and the bone has minor damage, or to tissue covering the nerves below the dermis, or below the subcutaneous tissue. Cancer has spread to: (a) one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the node is 3 centimeters or smaller, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (b) one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters, and cancer has not spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (c) more than one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller, and cancer has not spread through to the outside covering of the lymph nodes; or (d) one or more lymph nodes on the opposite side of the body as the tumor or on both sides of the body, the nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller, and cancer has not spread through to the outside covering of the lymph nodes.
Stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck (2); drawing shows a primary skin tumor on the face and cancer that has spread to: (a) one lymph node that is larger than 6 centimeters; (b) one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the affected node is larger than 3 centimeters, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; (c) one lymph node on the opposite side of the body as the tumor, the affected node is any size, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; and (d) more than one lymph node on one or both sides of the body and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph nodes. Also shown is a 10-centimeter ruler and a 4-inch ruler.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck (2). The tumor is any size and cancer has spread to: (a) one lymph node that is larger than 6 centimeters and cancer has not spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (b) one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor, the affected node is larger than 3 centimeters, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (c) one lymph node on the opposite side of the body as the tumor, the affected node is any size, and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph node; or (d) more than one lymph node on one or both sides of the body and cancer has spread through to the outside covering of the lymph nodes.
Stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck (3); drawing shows a primary skin tumor on the face and other parts of the body where nonmelanoma skin cancer may spread, including the base of the skull, the lung, the bone, and the bone marrow. An inset shows cancer cells spreading through the blood and lymph system to another part of the body where metastatic cancer has formed.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck (3). The tumor is any size and cancer has spread to bone marrow or to bone, including the base of the skull, and the bone has been damaged; or cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lung.
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