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Questions about basic cancer biology

Forums Cutaneous Melanoma Community Questions about basic cancer biology

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    Want2help
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      I have some questions about basic properties of cancer/melanoma that I can't find the answer to.

      How is advanced melanoma sub-staged? I understand that the sub-stages are M1a (skin and lymph node metastases), M1b (lung) and M1c (any other organs, including liver and lung). But what about metastases in the bowels? Is that M1c? Does it make a difference for the prognosis if the tumors are in the liver or in the brain?

      Why is the tumor burden important? What happens to the body if you have a high tumor burden? I have seen the word cachexia, but how ill do you have to be before that occurs?

      Thank you!

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