Radiation Therapy for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Surgery and radiation are the primary treatments for nonmelanoma skin cancer, but studies show that surgery has the best results.^{footnote 1} Still, radiation therapy has very good cure rates and cosmetic results, so sometimes it is the treatment of choice.

Risks of radiation therapy to treat skin cancer include the following:

• New skin cancers may occur in the surrounding area.
• Skin cancers may come back after radiation therapy and be harder to treat successfully.
• Skin may become dry and hairless. Or skin may lose color or become easily infected (chronic radiation dermatitis).
• Skin may shrink and waste away (skin atrophy).
• Healthy skin may be destroyed by radiation (cutaneous necrosis).

Side effects are common but typically go away when treatment is finished. They include:

• Fatigue.
• Redness and itching of the skin in the radiation field.
• Hair loss in the area inside the radiation field. But hair loss can be permanent.
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea if the abdomen or pelvis are radiated.