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FOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING

Chemotherapy

Source: Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: May 1, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.

Context: Treatment Option Overview / The following types of treatment are used:

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

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Chemotherapy for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and actinic keratosis is usually topical (applied to the skin in a cream or lotion). Topical fluorouracil (5-FU) is used to treat basal cell carcinoma.

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See Drugs Approved for Basal Cell Carcinoma for more information.

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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice