Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. Millions of people are diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma each year, with about 2 million of those people residing in the United States. Most people who are diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma have fair skin and have often noticed signs of sun damage to their skin.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Signs and Symptoms
Basal cell carcinoma can often be confused for other skin growths. However, basal cell carcinoma often looks shiny and is raised and round. Common areas for basal cell carcinoma to develop include the shoulders, back, arms, legs, hands, and the scalp. Other areas of skin that are less exposed to the sun can develop basal cell carcinoma, but this is rare. Other symptoms that may indicate basal cell carcinoma include growths that are numb, have a pins-and-needles sensation, extreme sensitivity, or are itchy.
While it’s important to note how basal cell carcinoma looks, it’s just as important to know the warning signs of basal cell carcinoma. There are seven warning signs that you should be on the lookout for:
- A pink or red growth that looks like a dent in the skin. This is often mistaken for an acne scar.
- A scaly patch of skin near or on the ear. This is often mistaken for dry skin.
- “Sores” that don’t heal or that heal and then reappear. These sores may ooze or crust over. This can often be mistaken for a sore.
- A patch of skin, either pink or red, that is slightly raised. These patches can be mistaken for patches of dry skin.
- A growth that is round and pink, red, or brown in color. This growth may also be the same color as your skin. This growth is often mistaken for a wart or mole.
- A scaly spot of skin, which is often mistaken for an age spot or a freckle.
- A skin growth that looks like a scar. The growth may be white or yellow and the surrounding skin may feel tight.
How Fast Does Basal Cell Carcinoma Grow?
Basal cell carcinoma often grows slowly. This is why it can easily be mistaken for a pimple, scare, or sore, as most people don’t notice it until the growth has been present for some time.
Basal Cell Carcinoma vs Squamous Cell Carcinoma
There is one main difference in basal cell carcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma develops when basal cells in the first layer of skin begin to mutate due to UV exposure. Squamous cell carcinoma develops from a precancerous skin growth in the squamous cells of the body.
Is Basal Cell Carcinoma a Serious Cancer?
Basal cell carcinoma should be taken seriously because, when found early, it is highly treatable. This is why dermatologists stress the importance of scheduling an annual skin cancer screening appointment. It’s also important to do a monthly at-home self-screening. Especially if you have fair skin, have skin growths, or spend a lot of time outdoors.
Treatment Options
Before diagnosing basal cell carcinoma, your dermatologist will conduct a skin exam, as well as ask questions to review your current health, medication, and medical history. If during your skin review your dermatologist finds growths that may be cancerous, they will conduct a biopsy. A skin biopsy is the only way to know for sure if you have skin cancer. If it is determined that the skin growth is basal cell carcinoma, your dermatologist will discuss the different treatment options available to you.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Removal
There are four ways to remove basal cell carcinoma: surgical removal, freezing or light therapy, medication applied to the skin, or radiation. The type of treatment chosen will be determined by the type of basal cell carcinoma you have, how deep into the skin it is, and where it’s located.
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Surgical Removal
There are three types of surgical removal methods used to remove basal cell carcinoma. Excision is used to cut out the skin cancer and a small section of skin surrounding it. The skin surrounding the cancerous cells will be viewed under a microscope to ensure that all of the cancerous cells have been removed from the affected area. If not, additional treatment options will be discussed.
A second surgical removal option is curettage and electrodesiccation. The basal cell carcinoma is first scraped from your skin and then any remaining cancerous cells are destroyed using electrodesiccation. Mohs surgery is the third surgical removal option, but we’ll discuss that in more detail in the next section.
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Freezing or Light Therapy
Cryotherapy may be used to remove basal cell carcinoma. This involves spraying a substance such as liquid nitrogen to destroy the tumor. Light therapy, also known as photodynamic therapy, is a little bit lengthier process.
During a light therapy treatment, a solution is applied to the affected and surrounding area to make the skin more sensitive to light. You will then sit for a minimum of one hour. Once the solution has set for the required length of time, blue or red light is used to kill the cancerous cells. While light therapy can be used to treat basal cell carcinoma, it may take multiple sessions to be effective.
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Medication Applied to the Skin
Topical medications are often applied before or after another type of basal cell carcinoma removal. It can help reduce the size of the skin growth or can be used to treat cancer cells remaining following another treatment. Side effects of topical medications for basal cell carcinoma include swelling, itching, tingling, sores, and redness.
Two medications have been approved by the FDA to treat basal cell carcinoma, imiquimod and 5-FU. Imiquimod is applied to the affected area typically once a day for six weeks. 5-FU is often prescribed to be applied twice a day for three to six weeks.
While radiation can be used to treat basal cell carcinoma, it is often only used to treat people with basal cell carcinoma who are 60 or older. If you require radiation to treat basal cell carcinoma, you will need to receive radiation through a hospital or specialized treatment center.
What is Mohs Surgery for Basal Cell Carcinoma?
As we promised, we’ll go into more detail about Mohs surgery for basal cell carcinoma now. Mohs surgery is a highly specialized treatment, which makes it the most advanced and accurate treatment method for basal cell carcinoma.
During a Mohs surgery, the skin cancer is surgically removed. The tissue is then processed in the office laboratory to examine the skin for cancer cells to ensure complete removal. Once the dermatologic surgeon has removed all cancerous cells, they reconstruct the surgical defect. This method allows for the most basal cell carcinoma to be removed, while also preserving as much skin as possible.
Our surgeons, Dr. Justin Vujevich and Dr. Christie Regula, conduct Mohs surgery in our state-of-the-art Mohs Surgery Center. Mohs surgery is not recommended for everyone. Your dermatologist may recommend Mohs surgery to patients who have basal cell carcinoma that is aggressive or large or if it is located in an area with little tissue. Mohs may also be recommended if you’ve had basal cell carcinoma in the past and it has returned.
What Happens If Basal Cell Carcinoma Is Left Untreated?
If left untreated, basal cell carcinoma can become large and possibly spread to other areas of the body, including tissue and bone.
Vujevich Dermatology Associates has highly-trained dermatologists to diagnose this form of cancer and perform basal cell carcinoma removal. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert dermatologists for a skin examination and treatment plan.