Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Basal cell carcinoma
- The commonest skin cancer. It grows locally and rarely spreads, but can cause damage if left, especially on the face.
- Dermatoscope
- A magnifying instrument with a light that lets a clinician see structures below the skin surface.
- Differential diagnosis
- The list of conditions a clinician is considering before deciding what something is.
- Duty of candour
- The legal duty to tell a patient promptly when something has gone wrong, apologise, and explain what will be done.
- Immunosuppression
- A weakened immune system, whether from illness or from medicines, which raises the risk of skin cancer.
- Interval review
- A follow-up appointment at a set time to look at a lesion again.
- Melanoma
- A serious skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body if not caught early.
- Metastasise
- To spread from the original site to elsewhere in the body.
- Safety netting
- Telling a patient exactly what changes should make them come back, and how to get in touch.
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- A skin cancer that can spread if untreated, more common on sun-exposed skin.
- Structured assessment
- Using a set checklist to assess a lesion, so the assessment can be written down and checked later.
- Urgent referral
- Sending a patient to a specialist quickly because cancer is suspected.