Improving outcomes for people with skin tumours including melanoma

Improving Outcomes for
People with Skin Tumours
including Melanoma
Appendix 6
Basal cell carcinoma
A type of skin cancer that arises from the basal cells, small round
cells found in the lower part (or base) of the epidermis, the outer
layer of the skin.
Benign
Not cancerous; not malignant.
Biopsy
Removal of a sample of tissue or cells from the body to assist in the
diagnosis of a disease.
Bowen’s disease
A skin disease marked by scaly or thickened patches on the skin. The
patches often occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin and in older
white men. These patches may become malignant. Also sometimes
called precancerous dermatosis, precancerous dermatitis or carcinoma
in situ.
Brachytherapy
Radiotherapy delivered by a temporary or permanent implant of
radioactive material into a tissue or organ.
A6
Breslow thickness
A measuring scale of thickness for malignant melanomas, measured
from the top layer of skin to the bottom of the tumour. The deeper
the melanoma has grown, the more likely it is that some cells may
have spread through the blood stream or lymphatic system.
Cancer
Growth of altered body cells that keep on growing, which is able to
spread from where it started to another part of the body.
Cancer Networks
The organisational model for cancer services to implement the NHS
Cancer Plan, bringing together health service commissioners and
providers, the voluntary sector and local authorities. There are
currently 34 Cancer Networks in England covering between 600,000
and 3 million population (two-thirds serve a population of between 1
and 2 million people).
Carcinoma
Cancer of the skin tissue that covers all the body organs. Most cancers
are carcinomas.
Cautery
The application of a hot instrument, an electrical current, a caustic
substance or other substance to kill certain types of small tumours or
to seal off blood vessels to stop bleeding.
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National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence