Types
Sebaceous gland carcinoma is a very rare type of skin cancer. It starts in the sebaceous glands. These are the glands that produce our natural skin oils.
There are sebaceous glands all over our bodies so this type of cancer can develop anywhere in the body. But the most common site is on the head and neck, especially on the upper eyelid.
Sebaceous gland carcinoma is very rare. Just over 700 people were diagnosed with it in England between 1999 and 2008.
There are some factors that increase your risk of developing sebaceous gland carcinoma. But having a risk factor doesn’t mean that you will develop this cancer.
Some factors that can increase your risk include:
a genetic condition called Muir Torré syndrome
having a weakened - for example, following
radiation – for example high sun exposure and using tanning beds
age - it is more common in older people
Muir Torré syndrome can mean that you have another elsewhere in your body. So people diagnosed with sebaceous gland cancer are often checked over for signs of cancer elsewhere. This can be frightening, but it's usually just a precaution.
Sebaceous gland carcinoma usually appears as a firm, painless lump. It can be a yellowish colour.
The most common site is the upper eyelid, 75 out of 100 (75%) cases are around the eye. You can also have sebaceous gland carcinoma elsewhere on your body including:
the head or neck
the central part of your body (trunk)
the arms and legs
the area
Unfortunately, it can spread to other parts of the body such as the , lungs, liver, or bones.
Your GP should arrange for you to see a skin specialist if they think you have a sebaceous gland carcinoma.
The main test is taking a sample of () of the area. Your doctor takes a sample of skin and sends it to the laboratory, where they look at it under a microscope. You usually have a biopsy under , which numbs the area.
Your doctor will also check the rest of your skin and your lymph nodes.
You might need to have further tests to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. These might include:
a
an scan
tests to check your lymph nodes
a or
an
The stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and whether it has spread. It helps your doctor decide which treatment you need.
There are different systems for staging sebaceous skin cancers, depending on where they start.
Doctors stage sebaceous gland carcinoma that starts in the eyelid as eyelid cancers. They stage sebaceous gland carcinoma that starts elsewhere on your body as skin cancers.
Read about staging eyelid cancers and skin cancer
You should have treatment at a specialist skin cancer centre because this is a rare type of skin cancer. is a team of doctors. They discuss the best treatment and care for you. The MDT includes a:
skin specialist (dermatologist)
plastic surgeon
cancer radiotherapy specialist (clinical oncologist)
The treatment you have depends on:
where the cancer started and its size
whether it has spread
your general health
Your doctor will discuss your treatment, its benefits and the possible side effects. The main treatment for sebaceous gland carcinoma is surgery. You may have radiotherapy if you cannot have surgery.
Your doctor might offer you . This is further treatment after surgery. It can include radiotherapy, chemotherapy cream or using extreme cold to destroy cancer cells (cryotherapy). It isn't very common to have adjuvant treatment.
Surgery is the main treatment. Your surgeon aims to remove all the cancer and some healthy tissue around it. This is called a healthy margin.
The surgeon might not know the extent of your cancer before surgery. So they might need to remove more tissue than expected. Your surgeon will talk about this with you before your operation.
There are different types of surgery. You might have:
mohs micrographic surgery
a
surgery to remove lymph nodes
Your surgeon might also remove the lymph nodes around the cancer. This is where the cancer cells are most likely to travel first. The operation is called a lymph node dissection.
Read about different types of surgery for skin cancer
Radiotherapy means the use of radiation, usually x-rays, to kill cancer cells. You might have it after surgery to kill any cancer cells that might have been left behind. Or as your only treatment if you can’t have surgery for any reason.
You usually have it once a day, Monday to Friday. This may last up to 7 weeks.
Find out more about radiotherapy for skin cancer
It can sometimes be difficult to completely remove cancers that start close to the eye.
Very rarely, you might need a larger operation to remove your eye and surrounding tissue. This is to make sure the surgeon has removed all of the cancer.
It can come as quite a shock if you need to have surgery to remove your eye. You will need time to come to terms with this change. As long as you have sight in one eye, it may not make much difference to what you can and can’t do. You may still be able to drive, for instance.
Read more about surgery to the eye
Treatment for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body won’t get rid of the cancer. But it can control your symptoms and help you feel better.
You might have chemotherapy. Your doctor might offer you treatment as part of a .
Find out about clinical trials
You have regular appointments with your doctor or nurse after treatment. You might have appointments at least every 6 months for the first 3 years. And then every year after that.
During the follow up appointments, your doctor checks how you are. You can raise any concerns or problems you have with them.
You might have scans such as a CT or ultrasound scan. Your doctor will tell you more about what tests you need, and how often.
The best person to talk to you about your outlook (prognosis) is your doctor. Not everyone wants to know. People cope differently with cancer and want different information.
Survival depends on many factors. So no one can tell you exactly how long you will live. Your doctor might be able to give you some guide, based on their knowledge and experience.
Your prognosis will depend on where the cancer is and how far it has grown (the stage).
Coping with a diagnosis of cancer can be difficult. You might feel sad and worry about what will happen. Being well informed about your cancer and its treatment can make it easier to make decisions and cope with what happens afterwards.
Find out about the emotional, physical and practical effects of cancer and how to manage them
Talking to people who have the same condition can help.
Our discussion forum Cancer Chat is a place for anyone affected by cancer. You can share experiences, stories and information with other people who know what you are going through.
The Rare Cancer Alliance offer support and information to people affected by rare cancers.
Last reviewed: 19 Mar 2026
Next review due: 19 Mar 2029
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