Survival for skin cancer

The cure rates for non melanoma skin cancers are very high. 

Your doctor can give you more information about your own outlook (prognosis).

Skin cancer statistics

There are no UK statistics available for survival of people with non melanoma skin cancer. But the outlook is generally very good.

Basal cell skin cancer

Doctors can almost always cure basal cell skin cancers. It is extremely rare for basal cell cancer to spread to another area of the body. So people almost never die from this type of cancer.

In a small number of people the cancer can come back in the skin and they need further treatment.

Squamous cell skin cancer

Doctors can cure most people with squamous cell skin cancer.

A small number of people might have squamous cell cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body. This may still be cured.

What affects your outlook

Your outcome depends on:

• the size of the cancer
• how deep it is
• where it's growing on the body
• how fast it's growing
• the type of skin cancer it is

If your immune system is weakened due to other medical reasons, there is a slightly higher risk of the cancer coming back.

Your doctor is the best person to talk to if you have any questions about the risk of the cancer coming back or your overall prognosis.