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Skin cancer (not including melanoma)

Here you'll find our current definition of the critical illness, additional condition or child specific condition we cover. We've also listed any previous definitions we may have had. With each new definition we've highlighted what's changed from the previous definition.

Current definition

December 2023 (ACC)

Skin cancer (not including melanoma) – advanced stage as specified

The presence of one of the following malignant skin lesions, diagnosed with histological confirmation: 

  • basal cell carcinoma that has progressed to at least TNM classification T2N0M0;
  • squamous cell carcinoma that has progressed to at least TNM classification T2N0M0;
  • dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with invasion to the underlying deep fascia or muscle; 
  • cutaneous leiomyosarcoma that has at least one of the following features:
    • involves the subcutaneous tissue;
    • poorly differentiated to at least grade 3 (where cells are very abnormal as demonstrated when seen under a microscope);
    • has grown to at least 5cm; or
    • has recurred at the same site (local recurrence); or
  • pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (undifferentiated) that is larger than 2cm and has any of the following features:
    • invasion into subcutaneous tissue;
    • tumour necrosis;
    • lymphovascular invasion; or
    • invasion into the space around the nerves in the skin (perineural invasion).

Changes from the previous definition

We've enhanced this definition to include more types of skin cancer as well as removing the 2cm requirement for all tumours covered.

Previous definitions

Skin cancer (not including melanoma) – advanced stage as specified

Non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed with histological confirmation that the tumour is larger than 2 centimetres (cm) across and has at least one of the following features:

  • tumour thickness of at least 4 millimetres (mm);
  • invasion into subcutaneous tissue (Clark level V);
  • invasion into nerves in the skin (perineural invasion);
  • poorly differentiated or undifferentiated (cells are very abnormal as demonstrated when seen under a microscope); or
  • has recurred at the site of previous treatment.