Skin Cancer

What is skin cancer?

The term skin cancer covers several different cancers that start on the skin. There are different types of skin cancer and these are generally divided into two main groups:

Melanoma
Non melanoma skin cancer which includes basal cell, squamous cell, Merkel cell, Kaposi’s sarcoma and other rarer skin cancers

Although most melanomas start on the skin, there are rarer types of melanoma such as ocular melanoma, affecting the eye, and mucosal melanoma affecting the mucosal lining in the body such as the anus, vulva and vagina or nasal passages.

You can read more about this here: www.macmillan.org.uk

How are skin cancers treated?

Skin cancers can be treated with surgery, radiotherapy, anti-cancer medicines or a combination of them. The treatment for skin cancers depends on the type of skin cancer, which part of the body it is on and whether it has spread to other organs.

The type of treatment you will receive will depend on your individual circumstances. Your consultant will discuss your treatment options with you.

You can find a good explanation of treatment choices on the following links:
www.macmillan.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
www.macmillan.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
www.macmillan.org.uk

Your consultant may also discuss clinical trials with you. More information on clinical trials can be found at www.cancerresearchuk.org

Who will be involved in my care?

The consultant you are referred to is determined by whether you have melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer and whether your cancer has spread to other organs. Many doctors will treat more than one kind of cancer, so they appear on the Beatson website more than once.
There are many different members of staff involved in your care including:

Medical and Clinical Oncologists

Doctors who specialise in the treatment of cancer involving drug treatments and radiotherapy. These can be consultants, staff grades or registrars (doctors undergoing specialist/ higher training in oncology).

Dr Stefano Schipani (non-melanoma) 0141 301 7060
Dr Norma Sidek (non-melanoma) 0141 301 7126
Dr Yun Yi Tan (melanoma) 0141 301 7043
Dr Ashita Waterston (melanoma) 0141 301 7043

Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists

Cathy Johnston 0141 301 7613
Karen Sime 0141 301 7613

The Clinical Nurse Specialists can provide information, advice and support to you as you go through treatment. They can also direct you to other sources of help, e.g. support services, benefits advice, and psychological support. They may assess you in clinic while you are on treatment and can prescribe cancer treatment and other supportive drugs.

Pharmacists

Dispense medication
A pharmacist may assess you at the clinic and can prescribe cancer treatment and other supportive drugs.

Macmillan Day Case Unit Nurses

Administer cancer treatment in the MacMillan Day Case Unit
Provide information, advice and support to patients receiving treatment in the Day Unit

Radiotherapy staff

Prepare and deliver radiotherapy treatment
Provide information, advice and support to patients having radiotherapy
Liaise with the Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists during your radiotherapy treatment to monitor and manage side-effects