Basal cell carcinoma

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Basal cell cancer	Basal Cell Carcinoma - close-up	Basal Cell Carcinoma - close-up	Basal Cell Carcinoma - face
Basal cell carcinoma - nose	Basal cell nevus syndrome - close-up of palm	Basal cell nevus syndrome - face and hand	Basal cell nevus syndrome - plantar pits
Multiple Basal cell cancer due to x-ray therapy for acne	Skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma - behind ear	Skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma - nose	Skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma - pigmented
Skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma - spreading

Rodent ulcer; Skin cancer - basal cell; Cancer - skin - basal cell

Treatment varies depending on the size, depth, and location of the basal cell cancer. It will be removed using one of the following procedures:

• Excision cuts the tumor out and uses stitches to place the skin back together.
• Curettage and electrodesiccation scrapes away the cancer and uses electricity to kill any remaining cancer cells.
• Surgery, including Mohs surgery, which cuts out skin and immediately looks at it under a microscope to check for cancer. The process is repeated until the skin sample is free of cancer.
• Cryosurgery freezes and kills the cancer cells.
• Radiation may be used if the cancer has spread to organs or lymph nodes or for tumors that can't be treated with surgery.

The rate of basal cell skin cancer returning is about 1% with Mohs surgery to up to 10% for other forms of treatment. Smaller basal cell carcinomas are less likely to come back than larger ones.

You should follow-up with your doctor as recommended and regularly examine your skin once a month, using a mirror to check hard-to-see places. Call your doctor if you notice any suspicious skin changes.

Untreated, basal cell cancer can spread to nearby tissues or structures, causing damage. This is most worrisome around the nose, eyes, and ears.

Call your health care provider if any you notice any changes in the color, size, texture, or appearance of any area of skin. You should also call if an existing spot becomes painful or swollen, or if it starts to bleed or itch.

Review Date: 07/27/2006
Reviewed By: Shlomit Halachmi, MD, PhD, Private Practice Specializing in Dermatology, Somerville, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.