Skin Cancer: Non-Melanoma vs. Melanoma, from the CureRays guide library.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer of all; the everyday non-melanoma types are highly curable, often without surgery.

What it is.

Skin cancer happens when skin cells grow out of control, usually after years of sun (ultraviolet) exposure. The two most common kinds — basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma — are grouped as 'non-melanoma' skin cancer. They grow slowly, rarely spread, and are highly curable. Melanoma is less common but more serious because it can spread if not caught early. Most skin cancers appear on sun-exposed areas like the face, ears, scalp, and hands.

How radiation treats it.

Radiation uses focused energy to damage the DNA of cancer cells so they stop dividing and die off, while healthy skin gradually repairs and renews itself. For common skin cancers, low-energy superficial radiation stays near the surface where the cancer lives, avoiding deeper tissue. Image guidance with ultrasound lets the team see the tumor's depth and confirm it's fully treated. Sessions are painless and brief, and because there's no cutting, there's no surgical scar — a meaningful advantage on the face.

The ways we can treat it.

Image-guided superficial radiation therapy (IG-SRT). Combines high-resolution ultrasound imaging with gentle, low-energy radiation to treat the tumor precisely while sparing deeper tissue — scar-free, no cutting, and reported up to ~99% effective for selected non-melanoma cancers.

External-beam radiation. Shaped beams treat larger or deeper tumors, or lymph node areas, over several short sessions.

Brachytherapy (surface). A custom applicator delivers radiation right at the skin surface, useful for curved areas like the nose or ear.

Questions we hear often.

Can skin cancer be treated without surgery? Yes. For many basal and squamous cell cancers, image-guided superficial radiation cures the cancer without cutting or stitches — especially valuable on the face, nose, ears, and eyelids.

Will I have a scar? Radiation leaves no surgical scar. The treated skin may look pink or dry for a few weeks and then heals, often with an excellent cosmetic result.

How many treatments will I need? Superficial radiation is typically given over several short visits across a few weeks; your plan depends on the tumor's size and location.

This guide is informational only. It is not medical advice — please confirm anything here with your care team.