To help community cancer centers better diagnose and treat cutaneous non-melanoma skin cancers, ACCC has launched a new project designed to engage all members of multidisciplinary cancer care teams as well as non-oncology specialists on effective practices for supporting, treating, and managing patients with advanced non-melanoma skin cancer.
Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common malignancies in the world. While over 80 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, less common types include Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphomas, cutaneous adnexal tumors, Kaposi sarcomas, and others. Each type of non-melanoma skin cancer is different in terms of its biology, clinical behavior, and treatment recommendations, and requires distinct diagnostic and management considerations.
Because metastatic disease is less common in patients diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancers, it is an area of focus for a small number of specialists. Community-based cancer care providers typically do not encounter metastatic non-melanoma skin cancers on a regular basis. However, given the limited network of specialists in this area, it is important for community-based providers to gain a better understanding of the different diagnostic, referral, and management considerations for these types of cancers.
Communication is essential in establishing referral networks and professional partnerships to facilitate the seamless coordination of care for patients with non-melanoma skin cancers. As a result, this project focuses on addressing the critical role of communication among specialists and members of the cancer care team through a series of interactive workshops with cancer programs and visiting expert faculty, podcasts, and a webinar designed to educate multidisciplinary care teams on supporting and treating patients, identifying barriers to care, and building awareness within the broader non-oncology community about early detection and referral of non-melanoma skin cancers and its impact on patient outcomes.
For more information on this project, please contact the ACCC Provider Education Department.
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer in the U.S.; however, optimal identification and management of patients with high-risk features associated with recurrence or advanced cSCC can be complex and requires the expertise of multiple specialists.
This publication maps out effective practices in multidisciplinary cSCC management. Included are three care models from regionally diverse cancer programs located in areas of high cSCC prevalence.
ACCC thanks the following Cancer Program Members for their contributions to this publication:
Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
Columbia, Missouri
The George Washington University Cancer Center
Washington, D.C.
The Knight Cancer Institute
Portland, Oregon
One of the most important things that health care providers can do for patients with non-melanoma skin cancer is coordinate treatment. Multidisciplinary teams in non-melanoma skin cancer care can help determine the best care plan for each patient and improve the quality of care.
In recognition of May as skin cancer awareness month, a disease that affects one in five Americans by 70 years of age, ACCC has developed new resources to support advanced skin cancer care.
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