Basal Cell Carcinoma

What is Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. More than 2 million people are diagnosed with it in the United States each year. BCC is not a life threatening form of skin cancer except in very very rare cases. BCC most commonly happens on the face and may start out looking like a pimple that never goes away.

Who gets Basal Cell Carcinoma?

You are more likely to get BCC if you have the following risk factors:

• Light colored/freckled skin, blue green or gray eyes, blonde or red hair or an inability to tan
• Spent a lot of time outdoors for work/leisure without using sunscreen or covering up with clothing
• Frequently used tanning beds
• If you had one BCC, your risk for developing a second one increases
• Your blood relative has or had BCC
• Taking drugs which suppress the immune system
• Overexposure or long term exposure to x-rays
• Some people are born with a rare condition that makes them more likely to develop skin cancers.

Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment

The only way to diagnose any type of skin cancer is with a skin biopsy. After the BCC is diagnosed, there are several ways to treat a BCC:

• Excision: affected area is numbed and the BCC is cut out and stitches are used
• Curettage and electrodessication: tumor is scraped then electricity is used to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
• Moh’s surgery: a dermatologic surgeon will cut out the BCC and a small amount of normal-looking skin surrounding the skin cancer. While the patient waits, the Moh’s surgeon uses a microscope to make certain that all of the cancer was completely removed. The surgeon will continue to remove a very small amount of skin until all of the skin cancer cells are gone.
• Cryosurgery: liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and kill the cancer cells
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT): a chemical is applied to the skin then the skin is exposed to a special light to kill the cancer cells.
• Medicated creams: certain creams can be used to treat early BCC.

Tips to Prevent Basal Cell Carcinoma

Most BCC’s are cured with the prescribed treatment.

• Keep all follow-up appointments
• Perform skin self-exams
• If you see anything on your skin that is growing, bleeding or in any way changing, immediately call your dermatologist
• Protect your skin from the sun and indoor tanning
• Wear a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) SPF 30, waterproof sunscreen 15 minutes before going outdoors
• Wear sunglasses outdoors
• Avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 2p.m.
• Avoid getting tan and never use a tanning bed or a sun lamp

Learn more at the American Academy of Dermatology: AAD Basal cell carcinoma.