Basal cell carcinoma: Frequently Asked Questions
What is basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It usually occurs in middle-aged or elderly people, it grows slowly, and it can almost always be treated successfully, often by a simple procedure performed in a doctor's office.
Source: www.skincancerinfoline.com
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of cancer in humans.
Source: www.oculoplastics.co.uk
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It does not spread to distant sites, however if not removed it might continue to grow leading to a non- healing sore. Some basal cell carcinomas if left untreated for many years, can cause local tissue destruction. This might result in deformities of the eye, nose or ear, if the tumor is already growing in those areas.
Source: www.northeastskinsurgery.com
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and accounts for more than 90% of all skin cancer in the U.S. These cancers almost never spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. They can, however, cause damage by growing and invading surrounding tissue.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
Is basal cell carcinoma a contraindication to vaccination?
Yes, basal cell carcinoma would be a contraindication for smallpox vaccination either resulting from the disease itself, or treatment being administered to combat the disease. If an individual is cured and is not being treated, they may be vaccinated for smallpox if their primary health care provider agrees there is no remaining suppression of the immune system. (Mar 13,
Source: www.bt.cdc.gov
HOW IS BASAL CELL CARCINOMA TREATED?
I use surgical excision with suturing, laser excision, or curettage and electrodesiccation (using a sharp surgical curette to remove the tumor and for biopsy while making sure the entire tumor is gone, and subsequent burning with an electric needle). I find cure rates with any of these methods to be well over 95%. The surgical procedures described above should be completely painless, with the patient feeling only the slightest prick with a local anesthetic. ...
Source: www.drschultzonskin.com
Wrinkles and Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)?
An interesting study from the United Kingdom's University of Manchester noted that patients with BCC tended to have smoother, less wrinkled faces than a control group of non-BCC patients. They found increased wrinkling was associated with a reduction in the risk of developing BCC. This may be because the mechanism for developing wrinkles is separate from or works against the development of a BCC on the face. So, you could say there was positive news for both groups of patients!
Source: www.skincancer.com.au
Who gets basal cell carcinoma and why?
Basal cell carcinoma is associated with previous sun exposure and grows several years later, usually in older adults. However, in countries such as Australia, these tumours are increasingly being found in young adults affecting particularly the head and neck region of "sun-exposed" skin. In the UK we are also seeing young adults aged 30 years or younger with small BCCs on their face and around the eyelids.
Source: www.oculoplastics.co.uk
What structure does basal cell carcinoma grow in?
It grows from the epidermis in the skin and gradually increases in size locally, invading deeper tissue.
Source: www.oculoplastics.co.uk
What happens if a basal cell carcinoma is left untreated?
The larger the tumour is, the more normal tissue it will have invaded and so more tissue has to be excised. This leaves a bigger "hole" and makes the repair or reconstruction more difficult. On the face particularly around the eyelids, all the tissue is very important so a smaller defect is best for an optimum repair. N.B. As mentioned above, it can spread deeply into the adjacent tissue and invades the orbit and even grows into the brain along the orbit wall if left untreated.
Source: www.oculoplastics.co.uk
What is the difference between a melanoma and a squamous/basal cell carcinoma? Which is “worse”?
There are basically three forms of skin cancer. The first and most common is Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). BCC’s are a direct effect of sun exposure and thus occur in areas of sun damage. They are curable by surgical excision, and they only invade locally. Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC) are also a skin cancer that occurs as a direct effect of the sun’s damaging rays. SCC, however, can metastasize to the liver, lymph nodes, and lungs. ...
Source: www.khou.com
Why do Oculoplastic surgeons operate on patients with basal cell carcinoma?
Oculoplastic surgeons are trained to diagnose and treat skin cancer on the face, particularly on the forehead, eyelids, periocular region, the side of the nose, the cheeks and temporal areas. We work closely with out Dermatology colleagues, Mohs' surgery.
Source: www.oculoplastics.co.uk
How is basal cell carcinoma diagnosed?
To make a proper diagnosis, doctors usually remove all or part of the growth by performing a biopsy. This usually involves taking a sample by injecting a local anesthesia and scraping a small piece of skin. This method is referred to as a shave biopsy. The skin that is removed is then examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
What does basal cell carcinoma look like?
A basal cell carcinoma usually begins as a small, dome-shaped bump and is often covered by small, superficial blood vessels called telangiectases. The texture of such a spot is often shiny and translucent, sometimes referred to as "pearly. " It is often hard to tell a basal cell carcinoma from a benign growth like a flesh-colored mole without performing a biopsy . Some basal cell carcinomas contain melanin pigment, making them look dark rather than shiny. ...
Source: www.medicinenet.com
