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What is the prognosis for basal cell carcinoma?

What is the prognosis for basal cell carcinoma?

The prognosis for patients with BCC is excellent, with a 100% survival rate for cases that have not spread to other sites. Nevertheless, if BCC is allowed to progress, it can result in significant morbidity, and cosmetic disfigurement is not uncommon.

Is Basal Cell Carcinoma contagious?

BCCs can occur anywhere on your body, but are most common on areas that are exposed to the sun, such as your face, head, neck and ears. It is also possible for a BCC to develop where burns, scars or ulcers have damaged the skin. Basal cell carcinomas are not contagious.

What does Micronodular basal cell carcinoma look like?

Micronodular Basal Cell Carcinoma Micronodular BCC lesions are skin-colored to slightly greyish and may appear a whitish-yellow when stretched. The lesions occur most commonly around the eyes and are often firm to the touch. Unlike nodular BCC, micronodular BCC is less prone to ulceration.

What are the complications of basal cell carcinoma?

Complications of basal cell carcinoma can include:

  • A risk of recurrence. Basal cell carcinomas commonly recur, even after successful treatment.
  • An increased risk of other types of skin cancer.
  • Cancer that spreads beyond the skin.

What happens if you don’t remove basal cell carcinoma?

If left untreated, basal cell carcinomas can become quite large, cause disfigurement, and in rare cases, spread to other parts of the body and cause death. Your skin covers your body and protects it from the environment.

Why do I keep getting basal cell carcinomas?

Most basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are caused by repeated and unprotected skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight, as well as from man-made sources such as tanning beds. UV rays can damage the DNA inside skin cells.

What happens if basal cell carcinoma is left untreated?

Untreated basal cell carcinoma can spread, in rare instances, to the muscles, nerves, bones, and brain. In rare cases, it can result in death. People with one basal cell carcinoma are at risk for recurrence and the development of future skin cancers.

How quickly does basal cell carcinoma spread?

The tumors enlarge very slowly, sometimes so slowly that they go unnoticed as new growths. However, the growth rate varies greatly from tumor to tumor, with some growing as much as ½ inch (about 1 centimeter) in a year.

Can you have basal cell carcinoma for years?

Basal cell carcinoma usually grows very slowly and often doesn’t show up for many years after intense or long-term exposure to the sun.

What is the procedure to remove a basal cell carcinoma?

Curettage and electrodesiccation: This is a common treatment for small basal cell carcinomas. It might need to be repeated to help make sure all of the cancer has been removed. Excision: Excision (cutting the tumor out) is often used to remove basal cell carcinomas, along with a margin of normal skin.

Is Basal Cell Carcinoma a big deal?

Basal cell carcinoma is quite common, and the number of reported cases in the U.S. has steadily increased. An estimated 3.6 million Americans are diagnosed with BCC each year. More than one out of every three new cancers are skin cancers, and the vast majority are BCCs.

How long does it take to recover from basal cell carcinoma surgery?

Depending upon the size, may take up to 4 to 6 weeks for the wound to heal completely, but infection, bleeding and pain are uncommon. Close the wound with sutures (stitches).

What are the stages of basal cell carcinoma?

The stages range from zero to four; higher numbers indicate more aggressive cancers. Most oncologists use the following scale: Stage 0 basal cell carcinoma (carcinoma in situ) – These cancers are only present in the epidermis or the upper layer of the skin.

Can basal cell carcinoma grow quickly?

A: Basal cell carcinoma growth rate difficult to generalize. Well, typically BCCs grow very slowly, but there are occasions when they grow fast. If a person’s immune system is compromised (i.e. from medications or generic disorders), BCC can grow faster.

How does Radiation Therapy treat basal cell carcinoma?

Radiation therapy is a treatment procedure for basal cell carcinoma where strong x-ray beams are used to kill the cancer cells. Radiation therapy for basal cell carcinoma spans a period of several weeks. Cryosurgery for basal cell carcinoma is a procedure where the cancer cells are frozen using liquid nitrogen.

What are basal and squamous cell skin cancers?

Basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are both skin cancers. Basal cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that arises from the deepest actively dividing layer of cells while squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that arises from differentiated cells in upper layers of the skin.