Radiation Therapy for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Skip to the navigationTreatment Overview
Radiation therapy is used to destroy cancer cells. This procedure may require 15 to 30 visits to a facility with special equipment. Radiation
therapy may be used in combination with other types of therapy to treat
aggressive or recurrent skin cancer.
What To Expect After Treatment
Recovery time may vary depending on the site treated and the amount
of radiation used.
Why It Is Done
Radiation therapy may
be used:
- If you are older than 60.
- For skin cancers that are too large or deep to be treated with surgery or with surgery alone.
- For skin cancers in places that are hard to treat with surgery, such as the eyelid, ear, or nose.
- For skin cancers that have
come back after surgery (recurrent).
- To relieve symptoms but not to
cure the skin cancer (palliative treatment).
How Well It Works
Surgery and radiation are the primary treatments for nonmelanoma skin cancer, but studies show that surgery has the best results.footnote 1 Still, radiation therapy has very good cure rates and cosmetic results, so sometimes it is the treatment of choice.
Risks
Risks of radiation therapy to treat skin cancer include the
following:
- New skin cancers may occur in the surrounding
area.
- Skin cancers may come back after radiation therapy and be harder
to treat successfully.
- Skin may become dry and hairless. Or skin may lose
color or become easily infected (chronic radiation
dermatitis).
- Skin may shrink and waste away (skin
atrophy).
- Healthy skin may be destroyed by radiation (cutaneous
necrosis).
Side effects are common but typically go away when treatment is
finished. They include:
- Fatigue.
- Redness and itching of the
skin in the radiation field.
- Hair loss in the area inside the
radiation field. But hair loss can be permanent.
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea if the abdomen or
pelvis are radiated.
What To Think About
Radiation therapy is most often reserved for use in older adults.
It may lead to other skin cancers in younger people as they
age.
Complete the special treatment information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this treatment.
References
Citations
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2012). Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, Version 2. Available online: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/nmsc.pdf.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerAmy McMichael, MD - Dermatology
Current as of:
May 3, 2017
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2012). Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, Version 2. Available online: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/nmsc.pdf.