What Is A Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs when there is damage to the DNA of basal cells in the top layer, or epidermis, of the skin. They are called basal cells because they are the deepest cells in the epidermis. In normal skin, the basal cells are less than one one-hundredth of an inch deep, but once a cancer has developed, it will spread deeper.
Prevention Of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Because basal cell carcinoma is often caused by sun exposure, people can help prevent this cancer by doing the following:
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Avoiding the sun: For example, seeking shade, minimizing outdoor activities between 10 AM and 4 PM , and avoiding sunbathing and the use of tanning beds
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Wearing protective clothing: For example, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and broad-brimmed hats
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Using sunscreen: At least sun protection factor 30 with UVA and UVB protection used as directed and reapplied every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating but not used to prolong sun exposure
In addition, any skin change that lasts for more than a few weeks should be evaluated by a doctor.
Skin Type Sun Exposure Location
With skin cancer affecting more than a million Americans a year, Basal cell carcinoma will account for more than 90 percent of these cases. The odds are one in five that you will get some form of skin cancer in your lifetime and many experts believe this number will get worse before it gets better.
Knowing these facts, most would agree that a person should be concerned. The good news, detection of basal cell is fairly simple and when caught early, treatment options are available. With a cure rate for basal cell carcinoma above 95 percent, this would be the skin cancer to have but not having any, of course, would be best.
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What Does Recurrent Melanoma Look Like
What do I need to look for? When melanomas recur, they usually do so by appearing as lumps beneath the skin, often around where the melanoma was growing, or further up the limb, or as lumps in the lymph nodes. This means that they dont look like the original melanoma.
Can Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Go Away On Its Own
They may go away on their own and come back. You should call your doctor if you notice a change in the color, texture, or appearance of your skin or if you have a sore that does not heal or bleeds. Your doctor can diagnose squamous cell carcinoma by examining the growth and performing a biopsy of the suspected area.
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At What Age Should My Child Have A Skin Check
In children, a skin check is extremely unlikely to reveal skin cancer. However, diligent parents may nonetheless wish to have concrete reassurance and this medical visit can be used to reinforce the message to both parents and children of the importance of sun avoidance and protection during the childs most vulnerable sun-exposure years.
Adults who have been habitually exposed to Australia’s high UV index in childhood are much more likely to develop skin cancer than those who spent their early years at latitudes with lower UV indices likely to develop skin cancer than those who spent their early years at latitudes with lower UV indices .
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What About Other Treatments That I Hear About
When you have cancer you might hear about other ways to treat the cancer or treat your symptoms. These may not always be standard medical treatments. These treatments may be vitamins, herbs, special diets, and other things. You may wonder about these treatments.
Some of these are known to help, but many have not been tested. Some have been shown not to help. A few have even been found to be harmful. Talk to your doctor about anything youre thinking about using, whether its a vitamin, a diet, or anything else.
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Questions To Ask The Doctor
- Do you know the stage of the cancer?
- If not, how and when will you find out the stage of the cancer?
- Would you explain to me what the stage means in my case?
- What will happen next?
There are many ways to treat skin cancer. The main types of treatment are:
- Surgery
- Immunotherapy
- Chemotherapy
Most basal cell and squamous cell cancers can be cured with surgery or other types of treatments that affect only the spot on the skin.
The treatment plan thats best for you will depend on:
- The stage and grade of the cancer
- The chance that a type of treatment will cure the cancer or help in some way
- Your age and overall health
- Your feelings about the treatment and the side effects that come with it
What Are The Symptoms Of Basal Cell Carcinoma
A basal cell carcinoma is a stubborn, persistent spot that usually appears on areas that have been exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, chest, arms and legs. The spot may take one of several forms: an open sore, a reddish irritated patch, a shiny red bump or nodule, a pink growth, or a small scar-like patch. In some people, the condition may resemble psoriasis or eczema. The spot will sometimes bleed, scab and heal up after a week or two, then bleed or become irritated again.
The main warning sign for basal cell carcinoma is that the spot doesn’t go away on its own. Patients often mistake basal cell carcinomas for minor injuries, says Dr. Christensen. They dont realize that an ordinary cut or scratch will heal within a month or so. So if something hasnt healed within a month, it should be examined by a dermatologist.
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Re: Basal Cell Carcinoma
Hello,
You may want to contact the American Cancer Society’s National Cancer Information Center. Cancer Information Specialists are available 24 hours a day and can assist you with resources. They can be reached at 1-800-227-2345 or by clicking on the “Contact ACS” link at the top of the page.
For the purposes of the CSN we consider a person a cancer survivor from the day they are diagnosed. Although many people consider it a personal term.
Take care and be well,
Dana
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The Recurrence Of Non
by Patient Advocate
If you have ever been treated for any type of skin cancer, one pressing question you may have is, “Will it return?” The answer is that nobody can tell you for sure whether your skin cancer will return, not even your doctor. Yet we do have information about the odds of recurrence for each type of skin cancer as well as information about which factors increase the likelihood for a recurrence. There are also ways that you can decrease the chance for your skin cancer to return by using some preventive strategies. We are going to share this information with you in hopes that you will beat the odds for developing new skin cancers.
What are the odds that my skin cancer will return?
If you have been diagnosed with any type of skin cancer, you are automatically at risk for developing another skin cancer in the years to come. The odds for recurrence greatly depend upon the type of skin cancer you have and how your skin cancer is treated. We are going to focus on basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma for the purpose of this article.
Statistics for recurrence for Basal Cell Carcinoma :
Developing more than one basal cell carcinoma is not uncommon. There are experts who say that you are 40 percent more likely to develop a new skin lesion if you have had a previous diagnosis of skin cancer as compared to those who have never had skin cancer.
Factors associated with BCC recurrence:
Recurrence Statistics for Squamous Cell Carcinoma:
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Am I At Less Risk Of Developing Skin Cancer Because I Tan Easily/have A Tan
There is no such thing as a healthy suntan. Developing a suntan should be avoided regardless of Fitzpatrick skin type.
It is certainly true that someone with Fitzpatrick type 1 skin is at greater risk of developing KC than someone with Fitzpatrick 3 skin after the same amount of sun exposure. Having a tan, however, is no protection from developing skin cancer, regardless of Fitzpatrick skin type.
Dealing With Skin Cancer
Most of my visits result in me being quickly numbed up and moles sliced away for biopsy. They get sent off of to the lab and in a few weeks, I get a letter in the mail letting me know about the mole and that they are irregular but not cancerous.
On one particular visit, my dermatologist said If I call you, dont freak out. It doesnt necessarily mean something is wrong. But then when the call came, he said, You know if Im calling, something isnt right Geez. That was my neck. And it was basal cell.
He explained that because of where it was , he would refer me to another dermatologist who specializes in plastic surgery who would do a procedure to remove all the skin cancer cells.
I didnt know until right before the surgery that it would be Mohs Surgery, the same that my dad had a few months before.
So leading up to it, I just thought it would be pretty similar to the mole removals I;had;done so far, which required a small bandage for about a week.
To be fair, I do remember my dermatologist telling me that I may end up with a few stitches but Ive never had stitches, aside from child-birth so even a few stitches seemed insignificant.
I didnt really know how to feel about the news. I was kind of scared but most people I talked to were not that worried. I went out to dinner the night that I found out about my basal cell diagnosis.
One close friend said, yeah I had that, they just take it off, right? And we moved on.
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Follow Up After Treatment For Skin Cancer
After surgery for BCCs and very early-stage SCCs you may not need long-term follow-up care. But your doctor may want you to have regular check-ups for a time. This is to make sure your treatment has been successful and the cancer has not come back.
Once you have had a skin cancer you have a higher risk of:
- developing it again in the same area
- getting another skin cancer somewhere else on your skin.
You should check your skin regularly for any new symptoms or changes that could be cancer. You could use a mirror if there are areas like your back you cannot see easily or ask a relative or friend to help.
If you have problems or notice any new symptoms in between check-ups, tell your doctor straightaway.
After treatment for skin cancer it is very important to protect your skin from the sun. This can help prevent further skin cancers.;Being exposed to a small amount of sunshine without getting red or burning, helps our bodies make vitamin D. If you are not exposed to the sun often, you can ask your dermatologist or GP to check your vitamin D levels and for advice on getting enough vitamin D.
Skin Cancer Types: Basal Cell Carcinoma Overview
All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology
The American Academy of Dermatology gratefully acknowledges the support from Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron.
Basal cell carcinoma
What is basal cell carcinoma?The most common type of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma can show up on the skin in many ways.
Is it contagious? No;
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Answer: Timing For Squamous Cell Carcinoma On The Scalp
A well differentiated SCC on an otherwise healthy person is not a high risk lesion. Most of these arise from actinic keratoses, and although they need to be removed, waiting for a week or two for an excision is not an issue.I dont know the size of the spot they biopsied, but in all probability, your doc will be able to have the site closed and it will heal nicely and your hair won’t be an issue.;
Basal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis
If youre concerned about a mark on your skin, schedule a visit with your dermatologist. Its always better to be safe than sorry. Your doctor will examine the spot and if he or she is concerned, a biopsy;is the next step. This involves taking a sample of the lesion and sending it off to a lab for analysis. The process can take around a week or more to get results.
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Breast Cancer To Basal Cell Carcinoma
Hi, I have been battling breast cancer for the last year and a half. Now that my surgeries, chemo and rads are done I went to have a mole checked, the mole was okay; but a spot on my forehead between my eyes was not. The path report came back basal cell carcinoma. I already have a deep hole the size of a nickle from the biopsy…looks like someone shot me between the eyes. They have put in a referral for me to have Mohs surgery but said there is a wait but not to worry as basal cells are slow growing cancers. I just want this out of me as soon as possible. Can anyone tell me what to expect?Thanks,
Have We Got It All Or Could The Skin Cancer To Come Back
Even with reported clear histological margins it is important for patients to realise that tumour recurrence is possible, so they can be vigilant of any change within or close to their excision scar.
It is helpful to ask your pathologist to routinely provide you with actual histological clearance margins in millimetres for KC, so you can judge yourself whether a wider excision may in fact be warranted.
Whether the KC margins are adequate is often an educated guess on the part of the treating doctor that will be made in light of the following information :
- tumour margin in millimetres provided by the histopathologist
- histological subtype in the case of a BCC
- the degree of differentiation in the case of a cSCC
- presence of associated perineural invasion
- size, depth and anatomical site of the tumour
- whether the patient is immunocompromised.
- whether the tumour is recurrent.
See: and .
If you judge that a wider excision or a second opinion is warranted, explanation of how their specimen has been assessed in the laboratory is often helpful for your patient. Explain that the specimen is cut into three or four larger pieces that are then embedded in wax so that a few very thin slices can be shaved off with a microtome and then reviewed under the microscope after staining. This is referred to as breadloafing of the specimen and means that only a few ultra-thin slices of the tumour are in fact examined on histology.
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What Are The Treatments For Basal Cell Carcinoma
BCC is treated by removing it. The choice of treatment depends on many things, including patient health and age, the location of the tumor, and the extent and type of the cancer. Treatment may occur in many ways:
- Scratching off with a curette, an instrument that may end in a ring or a spoon, and then burning with a special electric needle. This method is called electrodessication and curettage.
- Surgical removal
- Mohs surgery: This is a specialized technique. The doctor first removes the visible cancer and then begins cutting around the edges. The tissues are examined during the surgery until no more cancer cells are found in tissues around the wound. If necessary, a skin graft or flap might be applied to help the wound heal.
- Excisional surgery: The growth and a bit of surrounding skin is removed with a scalpel.
If the BCC has advanced locally or spread to another location, which is very rare for BCC, the FDA has approved two medicines: vismodegib and sonidegib . These drugs are of a class called hedgehog inhibitors.
Concerned About Skin Cancer We Can Help
When it comes to treating skin cancer, early diagnosis and treatment are key. When caught and treated early, even the most invasive melanomas have a high treatability rate.
Dr. Sapadin is highly experienced at treating patients with skin cancer. If youre in the Hackensack, New Jersey, area and are worried you might have skin cancer, please make an appointment online or call 201-525-0057.
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