What is non melanoma skin cancer? by ACCO Skin Cancer Workshop - Skin Cancer Courses in Australia

The Australasian College of Cutaneous Oncology (ACCO) provides practical and theory-based training and education to improve and certify competency in the management of skin cancer. Our policy is that no pharmaceutical company shall be permitted to sponsor or endorse any event, function, or workshop in any manner to our skin cancer courses.  This creates a truly unique and unbiased learning environment.

People with fair skin and greater exposure to the sun are more likely to develop non-melanoma skin cancer. NMSC is a range of skin cancers that develop slowly on the upper skin layers. These cancers are less aggressive than melanoma. Australia and New Zealand have the most cases of NMSC all over the world per head of population.

NMSC affects men more than women and is more common among the elderly.

See the Signs of Non Melanoma Skin Cancer           

Look thoroughly on your body and note for lumps, lesions, or discolored patches on the skin. Observe their development for a few weeks. If the spots change over months then a skin check with your doctor is needed.

NMSC usually occurs on sun-exposed skin areas such as the ears, face, shoulders, chest, hand, back, arms, and legs. But they can grow anywhere.

Types of Non Melanoma Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancers typically develop in the skin's epidermis or the outer skin layer. The types of NMSC are based on the skin cells from which the cancers arise. The following are the most common types of non-melanoma skin cancer:

Basal Cell Carcinoma

BCC is commonly characterized by a thin, glossy pink lump with a translucent or flaky appearance. It may also appear as a red, scaly spot. Inside the patch, there is occasionally some black or brown pigment. It develops in the basal cell layer lining the bottom of the epidermis. BCC is responsible for just under 50% of skin cancer cases. The lump grows slowly and can blister, bleed, or turn into a painless ulcer. Most BCCs are highly treatable. If the BCC does not receive timely treatment tissue damage deep to just the skin can occur. BCCs rarely spread to other areas of the body.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

SCC begins in the cells that line the top of the epidermis and contribute to almost 40 percent of all skin cancer cases. SCC can occur as solid, pink nodules. They can also appear as scaly pink patches on the skin's surface. Sometimes SCC appearance includes a thick hard crusty layer on the surface. The nodule may manifest as an ulcer, and it may feel delicate and bleed at times. There is a slim chance (up to 5%) of SCC spreading to other areas of the body. It most commonly progresses to the lymph nodes.

Bowen's Disease or SCC in situ

SCCis is a mild variant of SCC. SCCis takes time to develop and is typically easy to manage. It is often seen on the lower leg and mostly affects the elderly. It does, however, occur on any part of the body's skin. The key symptoms are a scaly patch on the skin with red color. SCCis is most commonly managed under local anesthetic by curette and ablation. This technique involves scraping the skin surface and then freezing or burning the layer beneath.

Actinic Keratosis (AK)

Actinic keratosis is not a skin cancer but can lead to skin cancers. People who develop AKs are more prone to develop SCCs and BCCs. Also referred to as solar keratoses, AKs often have a thickened layer of keratin that lies on the top skin layer. The patches can be pink, red, or brown in color. Importantly, treating AKs with creams or other treatments has NOT been shown to reduce a person’s risk of developing skin cancer.

The Time to Summon Medical Attention

Seek medical advice when a skin abnormality, such as a swelling, ulcer, lesion, or skin discoloration has changed over months. Your doctor can assess the lesion with a dermoscope and determine what management, if any, is needed.

A dermoscope is an instrument that is held against the skin. It looks at the structure of a skin lesion beneath the surface.

If you have any concerns about a lesion on your skin, talk to your doctor.

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