Management of non-melanoma skin cancer.

OBJECTIVES

To review types of, and treatment for, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC): basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and less common NMSC.

DATA SOURCES

Standards of care, dermatology texts, peer-reviewed journals.

CONCLUSION

BCC grows slowly and rarely metastasizes; some BCC subtypes can be aggressive and destructive. Early treatment of SCC is usually successful; untreated SCC will penetrate underlying tissue, invade lymph nodes, and metastasize. Treatment options for NMSC are based on patient and tumor characteristics, which determine whether a lesion is low or high risk for cancer recurrence after treatment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Nurses are integral for educating patients about measures to prevent new skin cancers and for monitoring for recurrence of NMSC.