Does radiotherapy treat squamous cell skin cancer?

Radiotherapy aims radiation at the skin cancer and a planned margin around it. A specialist may discuss it when an operation would cause substantial functional or cosmetic change, when the tumour is difficult to remove, when cancer cells remain at the edge after surgery, or when the cancer has returned. It can also be used for selected lymph-node areas or to ease symptoms from a more advanced tumour.

Treatment choice depends on the lesion’s size, depth, position, recurrence, and your general health. The treated skin can become red, sore, dry, or sensitive, and healing can continue after the course ends. Your team will explain skin care and follow-up.

Have the biopsy result and examination reviewed by a skin-cancer or radiation specialist. Ask whether surgery, radiotherapy, or another local approach best fits the lesion and the area involved. Tell the team about previous treatment at that site, medicines that affect healing, and conditions that make skin fragile.

Wash the area gently, avoid rubbing or unapproved creams, and follow the team’s dressing instructions. Keep follow-up visits even if the skin appears to improve, because the treated area needs examination over time.

Contact your team for rapidly worsening redness, spreading warmth, pus, fever, bleeding that does not stop, or pain that is becoming difficult to control. Seek urgent help for swelling that affects the eye, mouth, or breathing, or for sudden severe bleeding.

Why is radiotherapy being considered for my skin cancer? What area and depth will be treated? How may it affect the skin, hair, nearby eye, ear, nose, or mouth? What wound and skin-care plan should I follow, and how will recurrence be checked?