Basal Cell Carcinoma
What is Basal Cell carcinoma?
The most common of all cancers, Basal Cell Carcinoma affects 8000,000 Americans each year. One of three cancers in America is a skin cancer, and 75 percent of skin cncers are Basal Cell Carcinoma. this type of cancer has a 95 percent cure rate but can cause complications or even death if it is neglected.
Who is most likely to have Basal Cell Carcinoma?
This slow-growing disease affects individuals who have regular exposure to sunlight. Until recently, this cancer was most common in older people, particularly men who worked out doors. Now, howerver, more women and younger individuals are being diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinima, especially those who spend leisure time in the sun. People with fair skin; blonde or red hair; or blue, green, or gray eyes have higher than average risk. People with Basal Cell Carcinoma have about a 50 percent chance of developing another tumor within the next five years. Avoid long exposure to the sun, especially at midday, to prevent Basal Cell Carcinoma. If outdoors for a long time, consider wearing a hat, sunscreen, long sleeves, and a long skirt or pants.
How does a pathologist diagnose Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Your primary care physician or specialist will gather a biospsy specimen from an area of the skin with Basal Cell Carcinoma characteristics for the pathologist to examine under a microscope.
How do doctors determine what surgery or treatment will be necessary?
The pathologist consults with your primary care physician or specialist after reviewing the biopsy test results. Together, using their combined experience and knowledge, they determine treatment options most appropriate for your condition.
What kinds of treatments are available for Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Depending upon the size, depth, and location of Basal Skin Carcinoma, it can be treated by topical medications, curettage and electrodessication, surgery, or radiation therapy. It's important to learn as much as you can about your treatment options and make the decisionthat's right for you. Common topical medications for the treatment of superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma include imiquimod and 5-FU. Using currettage and electrodessication, the physician scrapes off the growth and dries up the tumor site with an electrocautery needle.
Surgical approaches include excisional surgery, durig which a surgeon removes the tumor along with a margin of normal skin as a safety margin. the pathologist examines the remioved tissure to assure all cancer cells are gone. another surgical approach is micrographic surery, during which a physician removes the visible tumor and then removes surrounding skin one layer at a time. Each layer is checked under a microscope for signs of cancer until the physician is sure all the cncer is gone. This technique has the highest cure rate and can save the greatest amount of health tissue.
Cryosurgery is a technique that can be performed without any cutting ot anesthesia. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the tumor with a cotton-tipped applicator or spray device. The tumor then becomes dry and crusted and falls off. The procedure is repeated until the cancer is gone. side efects mau include temporary redness, swelling, or loss of pigment.
Laser surgery is often used for cancers in the lip, face, or scalp because this treatment provides surgeons with greater control over the depth of skin that is removed. Often used as a secondary therapy after the first option is unsuccessful, this option has a slightly higher risk of scarring or pigment loss.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy, pinpointed x-rays to kill cancer cells. This type of treatment is directed at a specific area. It can be used to trat small tumors, minimizing the damage to normal cells or tissure surrounding the tumor, or can be used to destroy cancer cell that remainafter surgery. Radiation therapy is only rarely sed for Basal Cell Carcinoma. Photodynamic therapy is best used on cancers on the face and scalp or if individuals have multiple malignancies. A physician applies a topical treatment that is activated by a strong light. The treatment destroys cancer whil sparing surrounding tissue.
What characterizes Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Basal Cell Carcinoma occurs most often on areas of the body frequently exposed to the sun - the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders, and back. Tumors sometimes develop on areas not often exposed to the sun, but this is rare. Other contributing facrots are exposure to or contact with arsenic or radiation, or complications from burns, scars, or tattoos. Basal Cell Carcinoma sometimes resembles psoriasis or eczema; therefore, a physician should examine your skin regularly and suggest regular time intervals for examination depending upon your risk factors. Watch for changes in size, colorm texturem and appearance, as well as skin oain, bleeding, itching, or inflammation. Common characteristics of Baal Cell Carcinoma include a bleeding or non-healing sore, a reddish patch, a shiny bump, a pink growth, or a scarred area.
Definition of Terms
Basal cell: A cell located at the bottom of the skin's epidermis, or outer skin layer.
Carcinoma: A type of cancerous, or malignant, tumor.
Pathologist: A physician who examines tissues and fluids to diagnose disease in order to assist in making treatment decisions.
For more information, go to:
Skin Cancer Foundation
www.skincare.org
College of American Pathologists. Reproduced with permission from CAP. For use and production by patients and CAP members only.