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Treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer

  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Cancer types
  4. Skin - non-melanoma
  5. Treatment

If you have non-melanoma skin cancer, your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. It will be based on your health and specific information about the cancer. When deciding which treatments to offer for non-melanoma skin cancer, your healthcare team will consider:

  • the type of non-melanoma skin cancer
  • whether the cancer is low risk or high risk
  • where the cancer is
  • the size of the cancer
  • how treatments will affect how you look
  • your personal preferences

Expert review and references

  • American Society of Clinical Oncology. Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma). 2015: http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/skin-cancer-non-melanoma.
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Basal Cell Skin Cancer (Version 1.2015). 2015.
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Squamous Cell Skin Cancer (Version 1.2015). 2015.
  • 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.
  • US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Skin Flaps and Grafts - Self-Care. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000743.htm.
  • Zloty D, Guenther LC, Sapijaszko M et al . Non-melanoma skin cancer in Canada chapter 4: management of basal cell carcinoma. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2015.

Treatments for basal cell carcinoma

Surgery is the main treatment for basal cell carcinoma. Learn about treatments, including photodynamic therapy, radiation and certain drugs.
Learn more on Treatments for basal cell carcinoma

Treatments for squamous cell carcinoma

Surgery is the main treatment for squamous cell carcinoma. Learn about treatments, including radiation, photodynamic therapy and certain drugs.
Learn more on Treatments for squamous cell carcinoma

Surgery for non-melanoma skin cancer

Surgery is commonly used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer. Learn about surgeries, such as surgical excision, Mohs surgery, curettage and cryosurgery.
Learn more on Surgery for non-melanoma skin cancer

Radiation therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer

Radiation therapy is sometimes used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer. Learn about external beam radiation and when it is used.
Learn more on Radiation therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer

Photodynamic therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer

Photodynamic therapy or PDT is sometimes used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer. Learn about PDT and when it is used.
Learn more on Photodynamic therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer

Drug therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer

Drug therapy is sometimes used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer. Learn about which drugs may be used to treat non-melanoma.
Learn more on Drug therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer

Follow-up after treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer

Learn about follow-up after treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer, including the schedule for appointments and what may be done during follow-up.
Learn more on Follow-up after treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer