Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, but it can be easily overlooked or mistaken for another skin problem.
Doctors often discover cancer during routine skin exams, said Dr. Melissa Pillian, director of dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic. “Patients may not even be aware of the signs of the disease,” she says.
in facebook post This week, health and fitness personality Richard Simmons announced that he is undergoing treatment for basal cell carcinoma. He said he first noticed a “strange looking bump” under his eye and tried treating it with Neosporin. Simmons was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma after seeing a dermatologist.
Although it can be difficult for patients to identify, it is presumed to affect basal cell carcinoma. millions of people Every year in the United States, it is very treatable. Here’s what you need to know about causes, prevention, and treatments.
What causes basal cell carcinoma and how is it different from other skin cancers?
Basal cell carcinoma usually develops after exposure to ultraviolet light through the sun, tanning beds, or sun lamps. Dr. Karen Connolly, a dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, said the disease is the result of cumulative and chronic exposure. According to research Most common in adults over 40.
The disease occurs in the basal cells within the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis. Another type of skin cancer can occur in the squamous epithelial cells just above it.
Basal cell carcinoma is more common and much less fatal than another form of skin cancer, melanoma, which grows in skin cells called melanocytes. Melanoma is especially dangerous because, if untreated, it can grow quickly and spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma usually appears darker or browner than basal cell carcinoma, Dr. Connolly said, but patients should see a dermatologist if they see any lesions that are worrisome.
What is basal cell carcinoma?
Dr. Paras Vakaria, assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern Medical University, says basal cell carcinoma commonly occurs in the areas of the body that are most exposed to the sun, usually the head, face, neck, and arms. In most cases, the lesions are “pink and pearly,” she said. “They almost look a little shiny,” he said. It can also be brown, blue, or gray. Pirian said the lesions tend to bleed when people wash their faces, for example.
“When I educate patients, I tell them to look for acne that won’t go away,” she added.
People sometimes mistake basal cell carcinoma for acne scars, minor skin lesions, moles, warts, or freckles. According to the American Academy of Dermatology.
How is basal cell carcinoma treated and prevented?
Although basal cell carcinoma grows slowly, doctors say it’s important to treat the disease as soon as possible.
Doctors use several different approaches to treat this condition. one is known as mohs surgeryDoctors remove one thin layer of skin at a time to remove the cancerous lesion. In other cases, doctors may perform a procedure called electrodesiccation and curettage, or, in Dr. Connolly’s words, “burn and curettage” of skin growths. If the cancer is very small, it can be treated with chemotherapy cream, Vacaria said.
Basal cell carcinoma is rarely fatal. Dr. Connolly said patients “sometimes hear the word ‘cancer’ and think, ‘I’m going to die from this,'” but in most cases, “it’s actually about the patient’s overall health.” It has no impact.”
However, Vacaria said a diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma should be a clear sign to patients that they “need to be more careful with their sun exposure.” He encouraged people to wear wide-brimmed hats that fully protect their faces from UV rays and to use sunscreen with at least SPF 30. If you’re outdoors for an extended period of time, reapply sunscreen, he added.
And “using tanning beds is a big no-no,” says Dr. Connolly. She said there is a growing body of evidence linking indoor tanning to an increased risk of melanoma.
If you have had a significant amount of sun exposure throughout your life, have had a sunburn that caused blisters, or have a family history of skin cancer, have your skin examined for a basic skin exam. It is recommended that you see a doctor, Dr. Vacaria added. .
And Dr. Connolly said you generally need to take the time to scan your skin about every month to “check for any new growths or rapid changes.”
