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Basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma affect millions each year¹ and can be easily cured in early stages.² But what happens for those whose cancer becomes advanced?

Basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma affect millions each year and can be easily cured. But what happens for those whose cancer becomes advanced?

Knowing when two common skin cancers advance

What to know about non-melanoma skin cancers

In fact, they’re two of the most common types of cancer in the U.S.,¹ and with summer now in full-swing, we’re reminded of the potentially damaging impact of over-exposure to sun rays and the importance of prioritizing our skin health. According to a 2020 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

In fact, they’re one of the most common types of cancer in the U.S., and with summer now in full-swing, we’re reminded of the potentially damaging impact of over-exposure to sun rays and the importance of prioritizing our skin health.  According to a 2020 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during COVID-19 concerns:

Since getting regular skin checks from your dermatologist helps to detect BCC and CSCC when they are still in early stages, skipping appointments can have serious consequences.

Although these two skin cancers don’t often advance, when they do, the disease can be life-threatening.⁴⁵ So, this summer, make sure to prioritize your skin health, especially if you haven’t been in for a regular skin check due to the pandemic, have a family history of BCC or CSCC, or have been previously diagnosed with BCC or CSCC and notice any new or unusual spots. As with any cancer, patients diagnosed with advanced BCC or advanced CSCC should take it seriously and be aware of the various treatment options available that can help people with these types of advanced NMSC have informed conversations with their doctors.

Fast Facts

Those who have previously diagnosed with BCC or CSCC are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer again.¹¹¹³ A recurring BCC or CSCC could be a sign the cancer has advanced, which can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.⁴¹⁴ When this happens, the cancer has either become locally advanced, which means the cancer has grown deep into the skin and surrounding tissues, or has metastasized, meaning it has spread to other parts of the body, like the lymph nodes or other organs.⁴

Those who have previously diagnosed with BCC or CSCC are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer again. A recurring NMSC could be a sign the cancer has advanced, which can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. When this happens, the BCC or CSCC has either become locally advanced, which means the cancer has grown deeper into surrounding tissues, or has metastasized, meaning it has spread to other parts of the body, like the lymph nodes or other organs.

Who is at risk of developing advanced BCC or advanced CSCC?

Who is at risk of developing advanced NMSC?

There are a few common signs and symptoms of advanced BCC and advanced CSCC, but appearances may vary when it comes to advanced disease. Scroll through the below graphics to learn more about each type of cancer.

There are a few telltale signs and symptoms of BCC and CSCC, but there may be more than meets the eye when it comes to advanced disease. Scroll through the below graphics to learn more about each type of cancer.

What do advanced BCC and advanced CSCC look like?

If you’ve been diagnosed with advanced BCC or advanced CSCC, talk to your dermatologist about the treatment options available to you. You may also need to see other specialists, such as oncologists or Mohs surgeons, to make sure your cancer is being appropriately managed.

If you’ve been diagnosed with advanced BCC or CSCC, or your BCC or CSCC has returned, talk to your dermatologist about the treatment options available to you. You may also need to see other specialists, such as oncologists or Mohs surgeons, to make sure your cancer is being appropriately managed.

There used to be few options for treating advanced BCC and advanced CSCC, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.⁴ But recent research has led to the development of additional options, including systemic treatments for people with advanced BCC or advanced CSCC.¹³¹⁵

There used to be few options for treating advanced NMSCs, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. But recent research has led to the development of new options, including systemic treatments for people with advanced BCC or CSCC who are not showing improvement despite ongoing treatment or who aren’t eligible for surgery or radiation.

What treatment options are available to those living with advanced BCC or advanced CSCC?

What treatment options are available to those living with advanced NMSC?

Questions to ask your doctor if your BCC or CSCC has become advanced:

Questions to ask your doctor if your BCC or CSCC has returned or advanced:

Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content

Sponsored by Sanofi and Regeneron. ¹Skin Cancer Foundation. Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/. Accessed April 30, 2020. ²Cancer.Net. Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma) – Introduction. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/skin-cancer-non-melanoma/introduction. Accessed September 2020. ³Czeisler M, Marynak K, Clarke K, et al. Delay or Avoidance of Medical Care Because of COVID-19-Related Concerns – United States.2020; 69(36);1250–1257.https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6936a4.htm. Accessed April 30, 2020. ⁴Migden, M. et al. Emerging trends in the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma. Cancer Treatment Reviews2017; 64(2018): 1-10 ⁵Motaparthi, K, Jyoti P, Velazquez E. Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Review of the Eighth Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Guidelines, Prognostic Factors, and Histopathologic Variants 2017; 24(4):171-194. https://journals.lww.com/anatomicpathology/Abstract/2017/07000/Cutaneous_Squamous_ Cell_Carcinoma Review_of_the.1.aspx ⁶Farhradyan A, Howell AC, Wolfswinkel EM, et al. Updates on the Management of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC). 2017. ⁷American Cancer Society. What are Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers? 2019; 1-6. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/about/what-is-basal-and-squamous-cell.html. Accessed April 30, 2020. ⁸Data on File. Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme. ⁹Rogers, H, Weinstock, MA, Feldman, SR, Caldiron, BM. Incidence Estimate of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer (Keratinocyte Carcinomas) in the US Population. 2015;151(10):1081-1086. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2281227?resultClick=1 ¹⁰Garcovich S, Colloca G, Sollena P, Adrea B, et al. Skin Cancer Epidemics in the Elderly as An Emerging Issue in Geriatric Oncology. 2017; 8(5): 643-661. http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2017.0503 ¹¹American Cancer Society. Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk Factors. 2019. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html. Accessed July 2018. ¹²Wu S, Han J, Li W-Q, Li T, and Qureshi AA. Basal Cell Carcinoma Incidence and Associated Risk Factors in US Women and Men. 2013; 178(6): 890-897. https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/178/6/890/109501?se archresult=1. Accessed January 27, 2020. ¹³National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Squamous Cell Skin Cancer V.1.2021; 1: SCC-1-SCC-G. ¹⁴Puig S, Berrocal A. Management of high-risk and advanced basal cell carcinoma. Clinical Translational Oncology. 2015; 17: 497-503. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12094-014-1272-9 ¹⁵National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines: Basal Cell Skin Cancer Version 2.2021. 2021; 2: MS-2-MS14.

Fahradyan A, Howell AC, Wolfswinkel EM, Tsuha M, Sheth P, Wong AK. Updates on the management of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Healthcare (Basel). 2017;5(4):1-24. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/5/4/82/htm. Accessed September 10, 2020.  Data on File. Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme.

When you think of skin cancer, you probably think about melanoma. But in truth, non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) like basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are far more prevalent.

When you think skin cancer, you probably think about melanoma. But in truth, non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are far more prevalent.

Scroll through to learn more about advanced BCC and advanced CSCC, including risk factors, what to look for and what treatment options are available when diagnosed with advanced forms of these cancers.

Scroll through to learn more about common types of NMSC, including risk factors, what to look for and what options are available to you when diagnosed with advanced forms of these cancers.

The most common types of NMSC include basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).¹

BCC and CSCC make up about 99% of all NMSC cases,⁶ and BCC is attributed to about 80% of skin cancer cases.⁷

In the U.S., approximately 2 million people are diagnosed with BCC each year.⁸ Approximately 95% are curable, but an estimated 1% (20,000) of U.S. cases will advance each year and could be life-threatening.⁸

Approximately 700,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with CSCC each year,⁵ and 1% (7,000) of cases are estimated to cause death.⁹

White or fair-skinned people¹⁰¹¹

Males¹¹¹²

People exposed to intense and extended sun rays or who frequent tanning beds¹⁰¹¹

Individuals over 65 years old¹⁰¹¹

— Dr. Anna C. Pavlick, medical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine.

While advanced CSCC or advanced BCC can be experienced differently by each patient, it’s important for any signs or symptoms to be taken seriously. Some patients may feel pain or have bleeding at the site of their cancer, and others may have symptoms that may seem unrelated, like a lack of energy or trouble sleeping. If you’re worried you may have advanced BCC or advanced CSCC, especially if you have a history of these skin cancers, don’t wait to bring it up to your doctor.

Advanced CSCC

Advanced BCC

— Dr. Anna C. Pavlick, medical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine.

When caught in early stages, BCC and CSCC are considered to be no big deal, but that’s not always the case. People diagnosed in advanced stages have historically faced a discouraging prognosis. Thankfully, research is advancing, and additional treatments are available for people with advanced forms of these two cancers.

NMSCs are often considered to be no big deal, but that’s not always the case. People diagnosed in advanced stages have historically faced a discouraging prognosis. Thankfully, research is advancing, and new treatments are available for people with advanced BCC and CSCC.

What treatment options are available?

Is surgery or radiation an option?

Am I a candidate for systemic medication? If so, how does it work and what can I expect?

What specialists do you recommend I see?

Most commonly found in sun-exposed areas like the face, head and neck⁷

Typically found on the head, face or neck, but also commonly appears on the arms and legs²⁷

Learn more about a potential treatment option at AdvancedCSCCandBCC.com

4/10

Four in ten avoided medical care altogether — even for urgent matters.³

Nearly one-third of U.S. adults delayed routine doctor’s visits like physicals and dermatological appointments.

Nearly one-third (32%) of U.S. adults delayed routine doctor’s visits like physicals and dermatological appointments.³

Anyone can be diagnosed with advanced BCC or advanced CSCC, but some groups are more at risk of developing the disease.

About 20% of skin cancers are CSCC,⁷ and in some parts of the U.S., the number of deaths from advanced CSCC is more than that of melanoma.¹