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NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer  listen  (… non-MEH-luh-NOH-muh skin KAN-ser)

  The tumor is any size and may have spread to the jaw, eye socket, or side of the skull. Cancer has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor and the affected node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters, or cancer has spread to more than one lymph node on one or both sides of the body and the affected nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters; or, the tumor is any size and may have spread to the jaw, eye socket, skull, spine, or ribs. Cancer has spread to one lymph node that is larger than 6 centimeters; or, the tumor is any size and has spread to the base of the skull, spine, or ribs. Cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes; or, cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lung.

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Stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer (1); drawing shows a primary tumor in one arm with cancer in a lymph node on the same side of the body as the primary tumor.  Insets show 3 centimeters is about the size of a grape and 6 centimeters is about the size of an egg.
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Stage IV nonmelanoma skin cancer (2); drawing shows a primary tumor in one arm and parts of the body where it may spread, such as the ribs, base of skull, spine, or lung. An inset shows cancer spreading through the blood and lymph nodes to other parts of the body.