OBJECTIVES: To review types of, and treatment for, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC): basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and less common NMSC.

DATA SOURCES: Standards of care, dermatology texts, peer-reviewed journals.

CONCLUSION: BCC grows slowly and rarely metastasizes; some BCC subtypes can be aggressive and destructive. Early treatment of SCC is usually successful; untreated SCC will penetrate underlying tissue, invade lymph nodes, and metastasize. Treatment options for NMSC are based on patient and tumor characteristics, which determine whether a lesion is low or high risk for cancer recurrence after treatment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses are integral for educating patients about measures to prevent new skin cancers and for monitoring for recurrence of NMSC.