Keratinocyte cancer, previously called non-melanoma skin cancer, includes two types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
These types of skin cancers are very common in Australia. They make up the majority of the estimated one million skin cancers diagnosed and treated each year, and cost our health system hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
Very few people in Australia die from BCCs or SCCs. Most of these cancers are discovered and treated before they can spread. Some grow very slowly or stay the same for years. Others can spread into the layers under the skin, or nearby parts of the body. Rarely, a BCC or SCC will spread throughout the body and invade other organs.
This guideline is for health professionals, including general practitioners (GPs), surgeons, pathologists, dermatologists and oncologists. It contains recommendations about how to prevent, diagnose and treat BCC and SCC.