Skin cancer

Skin cancer

Information on skin cancer, including how it is diagnosed, treatments you might have, possible side effects and how to get further support.

This section deals with two common types of skin cancer:

    basal cell carcinoma (also called rodent ulcer)

    squamous cell carcinoma.

Together these cancers are known as non-melanoma skin cancer. The other main type of skin cancer is malignant melanoma.

The skin

The skin has many purposes.

The skin:

• protects the body from injury and infection
• helps to regulate body temperature
• helps to control fluid loss
• gets rid of waste substances through the sweat glands.

The skin is divided into two main layers: the outer layer known as the epidermis and a layer underneath called the dermis. Below these is a deeper layer of fatty tissue.

The epidermis contains three types of cells. Most of the epidermis is filled with cells known as squamous cells. At the base of the squamous cells are rounder cells called basal cells. In between the basal cells are other cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce the pigment melanin. It’s this pigment that gives skin its colour. 

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