What is the life expectancy of a patient with advanced cancerous melanoma?

For third-stage melanomas, the five-year survival rate ranges between 40 to 70 percent, while the 10-year survival rate is 24 to 68 percent, states the American Cancer Society. The five-year and 10-year survival rates for stage 4 melanomas range between 15 to 20 and 10 to 15 percent respectively.

Both third- and fourth-stage melanomas are said to be advanced because they spread to other parts of the body, notes the Skin Cancer Foundation. Five-year and 10-year survival rates refer to the percentage of people who manage to live at least those respective durations of time after their cancer is diagnosed.