Dr Fiona Bath-Hextall

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
University of Nottingham
Nottingham

Finding the best treatment for basal cell skin cancer

Based at the University of Nottingham, Dr Fiona Bath-Hextall is running a clinical trial called SINS, testing whether a cream called imiquimod or surgery is best for treating basal cell skin cancer.

Currently, patients with basal cell skin cancer are given surgery to remove their tumour. But surgery can be painful and may leave scarring. Imiquimod is a cream that stimulates the patient’s immune system, causing it to kill the cancer cells.

If the trial proves that imiquimod is just as effective at treating basal cell skin cancer as surgery, it could mean that patients no longer have to have an operation for this type of cancer in future.

Find out more about the SINS trial on our CancerHelp UK website.