Basal Cell Carcinoma IS Skin Cancer

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer — and the most common cancer overall.1,2 BCC develops in the top layer of skin, called the epidermis.2 BCC is most likely to develop on body parts that get the most exposure to sun: the head, the neck, and especially the nose.1,3,4 However, 1 in 3 tumors grow in areas that have little or no exposure to the sun.4 BCC is a non-melanoma skin cancer. The other major type of non-melanoma skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. The exact number of non-melanoma skin cancers is not known, because these cancers are not tracked in cancer registries. One estimate is that 5.4 million non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed each year in 3.3 million Americans, of which 80% are BCC.1,5 Having one incident of BCC puts you at risk for having another incident of BCC. One study showed that within one year after the first BCC, 33% of patients had one more BCC, 14% had two more, and 7% had three more BCCs.6 Is there a cure for basal cell carcinoma? Yes, most cases of BCC can be cured. This type of cancer grows very slowly and almost never spreads to distant parts of the body (metastasizes).1,3,4 It is easiest to cure cancers when they are caught early. What does basal cell carcinoma look like? .previewImg { display:inline-block; width:18%; min-width:80px; height:auto; min-height:80px; border:1px solid #819cac; margin:0px 2px 4px 0px; line-height:0; } .previewImg img{ width:100%; height: auto; } Basal Cell Carcinoma View the image gallery BCC appears in many different ways.4,7,8 Discuss changes in your skin with your dermatologist. Experts recommend performing a skin self-examination regularly.1 This examination will help you to become familiar with your moles, freckles, and blemishes, so you will be able to identify changes in their size, shape, or color. Skin examinations by a doctor are not routinely recommended, but they may be important for people at a high risk of skin cancer. Ask your doctor how often you should have a skin examination. What is complex basal cell carcinoma? The terms “complex basal cell carcinoma” or “advanced basal cell carcinoma” are used to describe BCC with more aggressive features:9 Growing into deeper layers of skin (invasive) Growing back after treatment (recurrent) Spreading to other parts of the body (metastasizing) Abnormal feeling, such as pain or tingling, in the area can indicate aggressive BCC.10 These sensations could be a sign that the cancer has grown into a nerve. Cancers located around the nose, eyes, in front of the ears, or along the jaw line can be tricky to treat. Risks include loss of nerve function and possible deformity.10 Fortunately, such cases of BCC are rare. BCC is locally advanced in 0.8% of cases and metastatic in 0.04% of cases.9 What are treatments for basal cell carcinoma? BCC is usually treated in the doctor’s office with relatively minor surgery.1 The specific type of surgery depends on the location of the tumor and likelihood of recurrence. Excision A surgical knife is used to cut out (excise) the tumor. This technique may be used for tumors that are unlikely to recur. The area will heal rapidly, but the treatment will leave a scar.1,4 About 5% of excised tumors recur within 5 years.4 Curettage and electrodesiccation Another technique used for tumors that are unlikely to recur is curettage and electrodesiccation. Your doctor will remove the tumor using an instrument called a curette. The curette looks like a long, thin wand with a loop on the end that scrapes the tissue. Your doctor will treat the area with an electric needle, called an electrode, to destroy any cancer cells that remain. This type of surgery does not damage healthy skin. The treated area may heal slowly and scar.1,4 Between 8% and 18% of tumors treated with curettage and electrodesiccation recur within 5 years.4 Mohs surgery When there is a greater risk that a tumor will recur, your doctor may remove it using a procedure called Mohs surgery. This surgery is expensive and must be done by a specially trained surgeon. It has the highest cure rates. Five years after Mohs surgery, only 1% of the tumors recur.4 It also saves the most healthy skin. This makes it good for cancers near the deye or cancers on the face, ear, or fingers. Mohs surgery is also performed when the tumors are large or invasive.1,4 To perform this surgery, your surgeon removes a thin layer of skin and looks at it under a microscope. If she or he sees cancer cells, then another layer will be removed. Your surgeon will continue to remove the skin one layer at a time until there are no cancer cells in the sample. BCC is sometimes treated with other local therapies. Your doctor might recommend radiation therapy after surgery for tumors that recur or are highly likely to recur. If the tumor is very large or hard to treat surgically, radiation therapy can be used alone.1 Topical medications Topical medications such as 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod may be used to treat cancers that are only in the very top layers of skin. However, it is more common to use topical medications to treat precancers.1,4 Cryotherapy Cryotherapy, which involves freezing the lesion to kill cancer cells, is usually used to treat precancer. It is sometimes used to treat small, thin BCC.1 Targeted therapies Targeted therapies may be used to treat patients with advanced or recurrent BCC. The two drugs approved for this use are Erivedge® (vismodegib) and Odomzo® (sonidegib). How can I prevent basal cell carcinoma? The most important modifiable risk factor for skin cancer is reducing ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. A few studies have linked intermittent, intense sun exposure during childhood and adolescence with developing BCC.2 This is the kind of sun exposure you might have during a summer day at the beach or pool. People who live close to the equator have more UV exposure and are more likely to develop BCC than people at higher latitudes.2 Indoor tanning increases the risk of BCC by approximately 40%.2 Luckily, there are many ways to reduce your UV exposure, including: Using a broad spectrum sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher. Seeking shade between 10 am and 2 pm. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses. Avoiding indoor tanning beds. There are other risk factors for BCC that you cannot change. These include light skin color, tendency to burn, freckling, medical history, age, and gender. People at high risk of skin cancer can take steps to detect cancer early when it is easiest to treat. [lead_gen showIfLoggedIn="0" campaign="shortcode" source="site" title="Sign up for emails from {{site-name}}:"] While there is no perfect way to prevent all skin cancers, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Oftentimes, many risk factors are uncontrollable, such as gender, family history, genetics, age, and race. However, some risks can be controlled or minimized, leading to better prevention, and a decrease in your personal risk. How to prevent skin cancer Avoid UV rays This is often the first step many associate with skin cancer prevention and regarded as its most common cause. Avoiding ultraviolet (UV) rays1,2,3 can be accomplished in various, from avoiding direct sunlight to staying clear of tanning beds and other radiation sources. There are several common methods of avoiding UV rays. Seeking shade when outside Wearing sunscreen when outside that is at least 15 SPF and is broad-spectrum (meaning it protects from both UVA and UVB rays), and reapplying sunscreen all over your body every two hours or right after swimming or sweating Wearing lotion daily with sunscreen in it, even indoors or on non-sunny days Wearing sunglasses to protect the skin around your eyes and your eyes themselves Wearing hats and shirts (and other appropriate protective clothing) while outside Avoiding tanning beds and sunlamps Teaching children about the dangers of UV rays and sunburn, and keeping them out of the sun when possible Check skin regularly Perform self-examinations and see your dermatologist on a regular basis. Note any unusual spots, and take pictures if needed to track changes of worrying places. Specifically, watch for any abnormal moles, and track any growth or color changes that they may go through. Make sure to bring any issues like these to your doctor promptly. Make healthy lifestyle choices Not smoking, or quitting smoking, along with a healthy diet and exercise regimen can help keep your body in tip-top shape, and ready to fight any potential issues. Also, try to avoid chemicals like arsenic, and other harmful substances are known to increase the risk of cancer. Oftentimes, we may not know we’re being exposed to harmful substances, for example, if they are present in our water supply or in the air of our homes. Having your water or air quality tested could uncover potential issues you may be able to amend. Keep your immune system strong Avoiding risk factors for conditions that impact immune function, such as HIV, can lead to a healthier immune system that can better fight potential problems. Also, avoiding medications that deplete the immune system, or weaken its ability to fight can help decrease the risk of developing cancer. However, not all immune-suppressing medications are avoidable if you are battling a chronic condition or other illness. Checking in with your healthcare provider about all treatment options and their impact on your health can be essential in avoiding any medications you may not need that could eventually cause other issues. [lead_gen showIfLoggedIn="0" campaign="shortcode" source="site"] Whether or not your skin cancer was responsive to treatment or is still ongoing, it’s natural to be concerned about recurrence (return of the cancer following treatment). While exact statistics can vary place to place, the overall trend is that those who have had skin cancer, both melanoma and non-melanoma types, are at a higher risk for developing skin cancer again. For this reason, it’s crucial for individuals with skin cancer to monitor for recurrence and work closely with their provider. While some with skin cancer may need chemotherapy and radiation throughout the rest of their lives, leading them to constantly be around their healthcare team, others may have responded to treatment and now may be more “on their own” when it comes to being proactive. Regardless of your specific situation, there are some common themes when it comes to handling the threat of recurrence. Monitoring for recurrence It is so important to perform regular self-examinations of your skin. There are simple guides that can walk you through the self-examination process, or your healthcare provider should have information on hand to give you. Sometimes self-examinations require mirrors to monitor hard to see locations, and you can also enlist the help of a partner. Taking pictures of potentially concerning spots can help track any changes that may be suspicious. Self-examinations are typically done monthly for skin cancer survivors but may be adjusted based on your provider’s instructions. Regular check-ups with your doctor are also necessary when it comes to monitoring for recurrence. Your provider will help you set a specific schedule, which may vary from person to person, or type of skin cancer. Additional tests may be ordered at pre-determined intervals, like scans of lymph nodes, blood tests, and other cancer screening methods. Whenever you do notice any new or unusual changes in your skin or any new symptoms, it’s important to seek the help of your dermatologist, general practitioner, or oncologist immediately. Worrying about recurrence No matter the specific type of skin cancer an individual has, worrying about recurrence is completely normal. In order to prevent this worry from getting out of control, there are steps you can take to decrease the risk of recurrence, or ensure you’ll catch potential problems early. Ask your physician for a survivor plan: This can include a schedule of exams and tests you may need, a list of possible side-effects or symptoms to watch for, or a diet and exercise plan. Following this plan exactly may ease anxious feelings. Avoid high doses of ultraviolet (UV) light, tanning beds, and direct sunlight. Wear sunscreen daily, especially when outside. Wear hats and appropriate clothing to shield from the sun. Although there is no way to predict who will have skin cancer recurrence, those who have eczema, have been previously exposed to high levels of UV light or tanning beds or had original carcinomas that were larger than 2 centimeters and/or located several layers deep into the skin are typically at a higher risk. Emotional support As with any stressor or concern, even the best attempts to calm anxiety may not be 100% effective, and that’s completely okay. Sometimes, the constant worry of recurrence can prove to be a larger burden to bear than anticipated, and outside reinforcements may be necessary. This can mean opening up about this anxiety to friends and family members, and seeking their support. Other times, it may be beneficial to join a support group, or online community, like ours, to discuss with others going through the same emotions. Additionally, anxiety or depression medications may be appropriate and prescribed by your physician. It is also common to seek the support of a specialist, such as a psychiatrist or a therapist, who can help you work through, and manage these very real and common feelings. Whoever you include in your emotional support system is completely up to you, and should be focused on bringing you up, and calming your fears. [lead_gen showIfLoggedIn="0" campaign="shortcode" source="site" title="Sign up for emails from {{site-name}}:"] ,

Basal Cell Carcinoma IS Skin Cancer

What is Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Skin Cancer Prevention

Worrying About Skin Cancer Recurrence

Community Poll

Shock After Diagnosis

Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment

Keeping a Skin Cancer Body Map