Skin Cancer - Squamous Cell & Basal Cell (Non-Melanoma): Treatment Options

How is it treated?

Non-Melanoma skin cancers are often treated and cured with minor surgery. There are several different types of surgeries that are commonly used depending on the type and stage of the cancer. Many of these surgeries can be performed in the doctor's office with a local anesthetic. Some advanced Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers may require additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Surgery for Squamous Cell Cancer

Squamous cell carcinomas have the potential to spread to other areas of the body (metastasize). You should have a clinical skin examination every 3 months for the first several years and then continue to be examined indefinitely at 6 month intervals.

• Moh's Micrographic Surgery: surgery to remove the cancer and as little of the normal tissue as possible. During surgery, the doctor removes thin slices of the cancer and then uses a microscope to look at each layer, as it is removed, for the presence of cancer cells. The doctor continues to remove thin layers of tissue until no cancer cells are present when examined under the microscope.
  
  
• Surgical excision: surgery to remove the cancer from the skin with some of the healthy tissue around the edge of the cancer. Depending on the size and possibility of spread, a node dissection may be indicated.
  
  
• Laser therapy: surgery using a highly focused beam of light that destroys the cancer cells. This therapy is advisable for very small lesions.
  

Other Treatments

Radiation Therapy

Radiation uses x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy for skin cancer comes from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy).

Surgery for Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin

You should have a clinical skin examination every 6 months for 5 years. After 5 years, you should be examined for recurrent tumor or primary tumors on a yearly basis. It has been found that 36% of people who develop a basal cell carcinoma will develop a second primary basal cell carcinoma within the next 5 years.

• Mohs Micrographic Surgery: surgery to remove the cancer and as little of the normal tissue as possible. During the surgery, the doctor removes thin slices of the cancer and then uses a microscope to look at each layer, as it is removed, for the presence of cancer cells. The doctor continues to remove thin layers of tissue until no cancer cells are present when examined under the microscope.
  
  
• Simple excision: surgery to remove the cancer from the skin with some of the healthy skin around the edge of the cancer.
  
  
• Electrodesiccation and Curettage: surgery that uses an electric current to dehydrate the tumor and then uses a specialized surgical tool (curet) to remove the tumor.
  
  
• Cryosurgery: surgery that freezes and kills the cancer cells.
  
  
• Laser therapy: surgery that uses a highly focused beam of light that destroys only the cancer cells.
  

Other Treatments

Radiation Therapy

Radiation is the use of x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy for skin cancer comes from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy).

Topical Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. When treating skin cancer, chemotherapy is often given as a cream or lotion placed on the skin to kill cancer cells.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy uses a certain type of light and a special chemical to kill cancer cells.

What are the possible side effects from treatment?

*Most side effects are temporary and can often be relieved with medication.

Certain side effects have been associated with different types of treatments. Each patient's response to treatment will be different but there are some common effects that have been reported by patients. Most side effects are temporary and can often be relieved with medication.

Radiation Therapy (Side effects depend on area of the body being treated.)

• Irritation to the skin near the radiation site
  

Chemotherapy

• Loss of hair
  
• Mouth sores
  
• Increased susceptibility to infection

Clinical Trials

There are always new experimental treatments being tested that often have promising results. The effectiveness and side effects of clinical trials are not always known, but they can sometimes offer hope of survival. Consult your physician or the Rhode Island Cancer Council to find out what clinical trials are going on near you and if you are eligible.

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