Basal cells are found at the bottom of the top layer of skin (epidermis). These cells produce new skin cells.
Normally, cells in the body will grow and divide to replace old or damaged cells. This growth is usually precise. Once enough cells are produced to replace the old ones, normal cells stop dividing. Tumors occur when there is an error and cells continue to grow uncontrollably. Basal cell carcinoma develops from basal cells.
Basal cell carcinoma most often appears on areas of the body that have been exposed to the sun, such as the head, face, neck, back, chest, or shoulders. Basal cell carcinoma grows slowly and does not usually spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).
Basal cell skin carcinoma is the most common skin cancer in light-skinned people. It is rare in people who have dark skin.
What are the symptoms of basal cell carcinoma?
The signs of basal cell skin cancer include:
- Any firm, pearly bump with tiny blood vessels that look spidery.
- Any red, tender, flat spot that bleeds easily.
- Any small, fleshy bump with a smooth, pearly appearance. This may have a sunken center.
- Any smooth, shiny bump that may look like a mole or cyst.
- Any patch of skin, especially on the face, that looks like a scar and is firm to the touch.
- Any bump that itches, bleeds, crusts over and then repeats the cycle and has not healed in a few weeks.
- Any change in the size, shape or color of a mole or a skin growth.
What are the causes of basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell skin cancer is most often caused by UV rays from the sun and other sources, like tanning beds.
How is basal cell carcinoma diagnosed?
If you or your doctor is concerned about an area of your skin, your doctor will take a close look at the area and ask you questions about it.
Your doctor may also want to do a biopsy. To do a biopsy, the doctor takes a sample of tissue from the area to test in a lab. A biopsy can tell you if the cells are cancer.
How is basal cell carcinoma treated?
Your doctor will want to remove all of the cancer. There are several ways to remove it. It depends on how big it is, where it is on your body, and your age and overall health.
Treatment options include:
- Surgery to remove the cancer
- Mohs micrographic surgery. This surgery removes the skin cancer one layer at a time, checking each layer of cancer cells right after it is removed.
- Curettage and electrosurgery. Curettage uses a spoon0shaped instrument (curette) to scrape off the skin cancer and electrosurgery controls the bleeding and destroys any remaining cancer cells.
- Cryosurgery. Cryosurgery destroys the skin cancer by freezing it with liquid nitrogen.
- Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells It may be done if surgery isn’t an option.
Other treatment options include chemotherapy cream and photodynamic therapy.