Making the Diagnosis
Skin cancer is easily diagnosed by taking a skin sample from the suspect lump or spot, and examining it under the microscope. This is called a biopsy. Normally, there's no need for a major examination to check for cancer that has spread throughout the body, as this rarely occurs.
There are three main types of biopsy used to confirm the presence of non-melanoma skin cancers. The types of biopsy include:
Depending on the type of biopsy, either a part or all of the affected area is removed. All these biopsies require local anesthetic before the procedure.