Reviewed on : 23 Nov 2018

Reviewed by : GP Gateway Editor

Expires : 23 Nov 2020

2 WW CRITERIA FOR SKIN: ARDEN CANCER NETWORK

Melanoma

Pigmented skin lesions on any part of the body which have one or more of the following features:

• Pigmented lesion >5mm
• Growing in size
• Changing shape
• Irregular outline
• Changing colour
• Mixed colour
• Ulceration
• Inflammation
• NOTE: Melanomas are usually 5mm or greater at the time of diagnosis, but a small number of patients with very early melanoma may have lesions of a smaller diameter than this.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Slowly growing non-healing lesions with a significant induration on palpation (commonly on face, scalp and back of hand) with documented expansion over a period of 1–2 months.

Patients who are therapeutically immunosuppressed after an organ transplant have a high incidence of skin cancers mainly squamous cell carcinoma. These tumours can be unusually aggressive and metastasize. It is therefore strongly recommended that transplant patients who develop new or growing cutaneous lesions should be referred to the two week referral services.

Other aggressive or rapidly growing skin tumours

Can be referred through the 2WW system.

Pre-investigations required of G.P: Nil

Exemptions:

Suspected basal cell carcinoma (BCC) should be referred in the normal way and will be seen under the 18 week rule. If HIGH RISK BCC the referral should be marked URGENT.

Consider handing the patient a Cancer Research UK Information Sheet – follow link

Two Week Wait referrals should now be processed through the NHS eReferral Service (previously known as Choose & Book)