Basal cell skin cancer is the most common type of skin cancer and grows slowly, but can cause disfigurement if left untreated. It is caused by overexposure to UV radiation and can appear as subtle or noticeable changes to the skin. Treatment involves removal, and those who have had it before are at risk of developing it again.
Basal cell skin cancer, also known as basal cell carcinoma, is the most common type of skin cancer and is also the most common type of cancer in the world. This particular cancer grows slowly and rarely spreads to any distant part of the body. If left untreated by a doctor, however, it can cause disfigurement by growing into nearby bones and tissue. It got its name because its cells look like basal cells found in the epidermis, the top layer of skin.
Both basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma are classified as nonmelanoma skin cancers, which means they grow and spread less aggressively than melanomas. Squamous cell carcinoma is more likely than basal cell carcinoma to metastasize or spread to distant parts of the body. Although basal cell is the least dangerous of the three types of skin cancer, any changes to a person’s skin should be examined by a doctor as soon as possible.
One of the major risk factors for basal cell skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, both from the sun and from tanning booths. People who live in regions that receive high levels of UV radiation are at risk of developing this form of cancer. While it doesn’t tend to develop until a person is older, it’s important for people to start protecting themselves from UV radiation at an early age through the use of sunscreen. Basal cell carcinoma is also more likely to develop in people whose hair is red or blonde and whose skin is light-colored.
This form of cancer causes changes to a person’s skin, some subtle and some more noticeable. Some tumors don’t look much different from normal skin and appear only as raised, flesh-colored bumps. Others may be brown or pink in color. Basal cell skin cancers can also manifest as sore areas that never seem to heal, regions of dry, raw skin, or shiny growths that contain small, visible blood vessels. Most of these skin cancers appear on the head, face, and neck, but they can occur anywhere on the body, including the torso and legs.
Medical professionals treat this tumor by removing it, either by excising the tumor or by using curettage and electroshock to scrape it off and then burn off any cancer cells that may be lingering. In cryosurgery, the cancer cells are killed by freezing and in Mohs surgery the area of the carcinoma is cut out until no cancer cells remain. If a person has once had basal cell carcinoma of the skin, they are at risk of developing it again. Anyone who has been treated for cancer must be vigilant about checking for changes in their skin and limiting their exposure to UV radiation.
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