Stages of non-melanoma skin cancer

Last medical review:

Staging describes or classifies a cancer based on how much cancer there is in the body and where it is when first diagnosed. This is often called the extent of cancer. The healthcare team uses information from tests to find out the size of the tumour, whether the cancer has spread from where it first started and where the cancer has spread. Doctors use the stage to plan treatment and estimate the outcome (prognosis).

Staging has been developed for non-melanoma skin cancer, but doctors don't use it often because most non-melanoma skin cancers are found early. Since they are treated right away and typically don’t spread to other parts of the body, staging is not needed. Doctors may classify non-melanoma skin cancer into risk groups instead of staging the cancer.

In some cases, the doctor may test or remove nearby lymph nodes to see if cancer has spread from its original location on the skin. Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI, may also be sometimes done to determine the extent of the cancer in the body.

Find out more about staging cancer.

Expert review and references

  • Rob Bobotsis, MD, MSc SLI, FRCPC, DABD
  • Califano JA, Lydiatt WM, Nehal KS, et al. Cutaneous carcinoma of the head and neck. Amin, MB (ed.). AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons; 2017: 15:171–181.
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Basal Cell Skin Cancer Version 2.2024. 2023.
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Version 1.2024. 2023.
  • Sapijaszko M, Zloty D, Bourcier M, Poulin Y, Janiszewski P, Ashkenas J. Non-melanoma skin cancer in Canada chapter 5: management of squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2015.
  • Yu SH, Rasar Young M, Leffell DJ, Christensen SR. Cancer of the skin. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg S. eds. DeVita Hellman and Rosenberg's Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2023: Kindle version, [chapter 62], https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B0BG3DPT4Q&language=en-CA.

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