Cancer cases are on the rise all around the world, with skin cancer being one of the most common forms. Typically, when we think of skin cancer, we think of melanoma. However, melanomas only make up a small percentage of all skin cancer cases, while other forms, such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, are, in fact, much more common. In our guide, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about non-melanoma skin cancer, its types, how to detect it, as well as how to treat it.

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What is non-melanoma skin cancer?

Non-melanoma skin cancer is an umbrella term for all types of skin cancer that aren’t melanoma. The most common forms are basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas.

While non-melanoma skin cancer is typically less likely to spread to other regions of the body and therefore generally regarded as less dangerous than melanoma skin cancer, it is still a very serious condition that needs to be detected and treated as soon as possible.

Types of non-melanoma skin cancer

Non melanoma skin cancer can take many forms, ranging from non-aggressive to aggressive. Let’s take a closer look at the most common ones.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

As suggested by its name, basal cell carcinoma starts in the basal cells – a specific type of cell responsible for building new skin cells. Basal cell carcinoma most often shows as waxy, skin-coloured bumps (similar in look to small, raised scars), scaly patches, localised skin rashes, or as dark lesions.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the squamous cells, responsible for forming the surface of the skin. It usually appears as scaly, crusty, and sometimes bleeding patches or warts on your face, ears, hands, and other areas frequently exposed to the sun.

Rare & aggressive: Merkel cell carcinoma

A rare but aggressive form of non-melanoma skin cancer is the Merkel cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer usually occurs in older people and presents as red, blue, or purple bumps that tend to grow fast, and quickly spread to other regions of the body. It typically appears on the face, head, neck, or other areas frequently exposed to the sun.

Early-stage and pre-cancer types: Bowen’s disease & actinic keratoses

Bowen’s disease is a very early stage of squamous cell carcinoma that usually starts as dry, scaly, red patches of skin. It is easily treatable by surgically removing the affected areas.

Actinic keratoses, on the other hand, are considered a pre-cancer stage that, if untreated, has a small chance of developing into squamous cell carcinoma. It is most commonly treated by destroying the outermost skin layer of the affected areas by freezing them or applying specific anti-cancer creams or gels.

What are the symptoms of non-melanoma skin cancer?

Depending on the type of non-melanoma skin cancer, an affected person may develop different kinds of symptoms. The most common are:

• bumps, warts, and nodules on the skin that can be waxy, skin-coloured, white, red, blue, purple, or brown
• scaly, dry patches of skin (skin rashes), that can be pink, red, brown, blue, purple, or have raised edges
• open sores, lesions, and warts that don’t heal.
• bleeding
• itching

If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to see your doctor as soon as possible

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What causes non-melanoma skin cancer

While skin cancer typically occurs as the result of unwanted mutations in the cells of the skin, there are very specific risk factors that contribute to it.

The most common among them is long-term and recurring exposure to sunlight, specifically exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Protecting your skin with sunscreen or sunblock can therefore significantly reduce your risk for skin cancer. Please be aware that tanning beds and lamps produce the same UV rays and can also increase your risk for skin cancer.

Apart from sun exposure, there are several other common risk factors. These include:

• a lighter complexion and/or tendency to get sunburned
• bright eyes
• blond or ginger hair
• having many/specific types of moles
• personal or family history of skin cancer
• exposure to radiation (eg. during x-rays)
• exposure to certain chemicals and toxins, such as arsenic
• smoking
• old age
• a compromised immune system

How to diagnose non-melanoma skin cancer?

The first step in diagnosing non-melanoma skin cancer is regularly checking your body for potential signs and symptoms. Should you notice new or changing bumps, nodules, dry patches of skin, rashes, or lesions, go and see a your dermatologist immediately.

After a thorough examination, your doctor will then typically take a small tissue sample from the affected area and send it to a lab for testing. This biopsy is the only way to definitely diagnose skin cancer.

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What’s the treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer?

Non-melanoma skin cancer is usually treated by surgically removing the affected area(s). Other, less invasive treatments include cryotherapy (freezing of affected tissue), the application of anti-cancer creams and gels, radiotherapy (radiation therapy), and photodynamic therapy (light therapy).

Non-melanoma skin cancer has a low fatality rate and can be cured completely in 90% of cases if detected in time. However, about 60% of patients who had skin cancer in the past will develop further skin carcinomas within ten years. It’s therefore important to follow any treatment with regular check-ups and to avoid skin cancer risk factors, especially prolonged sun exposure.

Non melanoma skin cancer FAQs

Looking for quick answers to your most important questions about non-melanoma skin cancer? Here they are:

What does skin cancer look like?

Depending on the type of skin cancer, it can appear as

• bumps, warts, and nodules on the skin that can be waxy, skin-coloured, white, red, blue, purple or brown
• scaly, dry patches of skin, that can be pink, red, brown, blue, purple, or have raised edges
• open sores, lesions, and warts that don’t heal.

Is skin cancer deadly?

The survival rate for non-melanoma skin cancer is [very high](https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/skin-non-melanoma/prognosis-and-survival/survival-statistics), with a close to 100% survival rate within five years of diagnosis for basal cell carcinomas and about 95% for squamous cell carcinomas.

What happens if you pick at a basal cell carcinoma?

The picking itself won’t harm you. However, injuring the area by picking at it may cause healthy skin to grow over the affected area and hide the carcinoma underneath. Always have suspicious areas checked by a dermatologist as soon as possible.

Does skin cancer itch?

Non-melanoma skin cancer can itch, especially if it appears as sores, dry patches, rashes, or lesions.

What is basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in the basal cells, a specific type of cell responsible for building new skin cells. It usually presents as waxy, skin-coloured bumps, scaly patches of skin, skin rashes, or dark lesions.

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Non-melanoma skin cancer resources

• https://www.skincancer.org/
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-melanoma-skin-cancer/
• https://www.cancer.org/cancer/skin-cancer.html
• https://www.cancer.org/cancer/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/treating/actinic-keratosis.html
• https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/cancer-types/skin-cancer/

While skin cancer is typically mostly associated with melanoma, non-melanoma types are, in fact, much more common. Detected and treated early, they can be cured completely in about 9 out of 10 cases. Therefore, should you notice any of the potential signs and symptoms described in our guide, see an expert as soon as possible.

Please also don’t hesitate to join and connect with our Carecircle.org community to discuss any health concerns you might have, share your experiences, or seek advice from involved carers and medical scientists. Sign up right now – it’s free!

Guide Sources

• Cancer.org – Skin Cancer
• Cancer.org – Basal and Squamous cell skin cancer
• Canadian Cancer Society
• NHS – Non-melanoma skin cancer
• Skin Cancer Foundation
• World Cancer Research Fund International