What are the potential options for treating non-melanoma skin cancer?

Non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are estimated to affect up to 2 in 3 Australians by the age of 70 years.*¹ So, many of us may need to undergo treatment for these skin cancers at some point in our lives.

How is a treatment chosen by your doctor?

There are a range of options available to treat non-melanoma skin cancer. Factors that will be considered by a doctor when determining the most appropriate option for a particular patient include:²

• What type of skin cancer it is – and how big it is
• Where the skin cancer is located
• Whether the skin cancer has spread to other parts of the body
• The patient’s overall health and any medications they are taking

What are the potential treatment options?

Some of the different treatment options for non-melanoma skin cancer include surgery, curettage and electrodessication, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, topical creams or gels, and radiation therapy.³

• Surgery – a surgical excision is where a doctor cuts around the cancer to remove it, as well as a bit of the surrounding healthy skin and tissue (called the margin) to make sure that all the cancer is removed. The bit that is removed is examined by a pathologist to check that there are no cancer cells in the margin.^2,3
• Curettage and electrodessication – in this technique (which is also called cautery), the doctor uses a sharp scoop-like tool to remove the skin cancer and then applies an electrical current (which creates heat) to kill any remaining cancer cells and stop the bleeding.^2,3
• Cryotherapy – the doctor uses a spray of extremely cold liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the skin cancer cells, causing a blister first, then a scab to form. The scab falls off and allows healthy new skin to grow in its place.^2,3
• Photodynamic therapy – this treatment involves applying a special cream to the skin cancer that makes it sensitive to light, and then using a special lamp that activates the cream to kill the abnormal cells.^2,3
• Topical gels or creams – topical treatments involve applying gels or creams that contain certain medications that are applied to the skin to destroy the abnormal skin cancer cells.^2,3
• Radiation therapy – this treatment uses a controlled dose of radiation to target and destroy the skin cancer cells. It is sometimes given after surgery to help improve outcomes.^2,3

Which one will I get?

Each type of treatment has its own benefits and risks and may not be suitable for treating all types of skin cancers.² Your doctor will decide which option is best suited to your particular needs. If you have any questions about treatment options for non-melanoma skin cancers, talk to your doctor.

* Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Skin Cancer in Australia. July 2016.¹

References:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Skin Cancer in Australia. July 2016. Available: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/skin-cancer-in-australia/summary [accessed October 2023].
2. Cancer Council. Understanding Skin Cancer. December 2021. Available: https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/skin-cancer [accessed October 2023].
3. Harman, J, Cancer Council Australia Keratinocyte Cancers Guideline Working Party. Clinical practice guidelines for keratinocyte cancer. Plain English summary. November 2019. Available: https://wiki.cancer.org.au/australia/Guidelines:Keratinocyte_carcinoma/Plain_English_summary [accessed October 2023].

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