Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Newly Diagnosed

Being told you have skin cancer can be scary, and you may have many questions. But you have people on your healthcare team to help.

Coping with fear

It’s normal to feel afraid. Learning about your cancer and about the treatment choices you have can make you feel less afraid. This also helps you work with your healthcare team and make the best choices for your treatment. You can also ask to speak with a counselor.

Working with your healthcare team

Most nonmelanoma skin cancer can be treated by a dermatologist. This is a healthcare provider who specializes in treating disease of the skin. If your cancer is more advanced, you may also have other types of healthcare providers on your team. These may include:

• Surgical oncologist. This is a healthcare provider with special training in surgery to treat cancer.

• Medical oncologist. This is a healthcare provider with special training to treat cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

• Radiation oncologist. This is a healthcare provider with special training to treat cancer with radiation therapy.

• Dermatologist. This is a healthcare provider who specializes in skin disease treatment, including nonmelanoma cancers like squamous and basal cell skin cancers, and precancers.

• Oncology nurse. This is a nurse with special training to take care of people with cancer.

You may also have physician assistants or nurse practitioners as a part of your healthcare team. Your team will answer any questions you may have. They’ll help you through each of the steps you’ll take before, during, and after treatment. Your team will let you know what tests you need and the results of those tests. They’ll guide you in making treatment decisions and help prepare you and your loved ones for what’s ahead.

Learning about treatment choices

To decide the best course of treatment for you, your healthcare team needs to know as much as they can about your cancer. This may mean getting some tests and working with more than one healthcare provider or other type of healthcare professional. And you may decide that you want to get a second opinion to help you choose a treatment.

Getting support

Coping with cancer can be stressful. You can talk with your healthcare team about seeing a counselor. They can refer you to someone who can help. You can also visit support groups to talk with other people coping with cancer. Ask your healthcare team about local and online support groups.