HOW DOES MY DOCTOR CHOOSE MY TREATMENT
Following the results of your physical exam and biopsy, your doctor will determine the best treatment options for you. Doctors often use the following risk groups to estimate the chance that the cancer may come back (recur) and help plan the best treatment.
Doctors classify most non-melanoma skin cancers into these risk groups based on several prognostic factors, including the size of the cancer and where it is located (for example, head, neck, eyes, lips or is it on arms, legs or back). Fortunately, the majority of cSCC is caught early and treated very effectively through surgery.
Low-risk CSCC
CSCC is in the low-risk group when:
- It is anywhere on the skin except for the ears, lips and scalp
- It is smaller than 2 cm
- It is less than 2 mm deep or Clark’s classification level I, II or III
- The cancer is only in the top or outer layer of the skin (CSCC in situ)
- It is low grade
- It is a primary cancer that has not come back after treatment
- There is no cancer in or around nerves
High-risk CSCC
CSCC is in the high-risk group when:
- It is on the ears, lips or scalp
- It is 2 cm or larger
- It is 2 mm or more deep or Clark’s classification level IV or V
- It is high grade
- It is growing quickly
- It has come back after treatment
- The person has a weakened immune system (immunosuppression)
- The cancer has grown into or around nerves