Basal cell carcinoma is a common type of skin cancer that affects the basal cells. Your basal cells regenerate new, healthy cells as old ones die off.
Basal cell carcinoma usually occurs on areas of the skin that experience frequent sun exposure, such as the arms, hands, face, and neck.
Basal cell carcinoma presents minor symptoms at first, such as an open wound that won’t heal. As cancer grows in size, you might notice that the lesion has one (or several) of the following traits:
- A pink bump
- Pearly white skin color
- Brown, black, or blue lesions
- A flat, scaly, or red patch
Some people with basal cell carcinoma also experience a white, waxy, or scar-like lesion without a defined border. This condition is rare and known as morpheaform basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma occurs in people of all ages and genders, but several factors may increase your risk, including:
- Having a family history of skin cancer
- Being fair-skinned
- Undergoing radiation therapy for acne or another condition
- Taking immunosuppressant drugs
- Exposure to arsenic
You’re also more likely to experience basal cell carcinoma if you have a genetic condition like Gorlin-Goltz syndrome.
Annexus Dermatology & Aesthetics diagnoses basal cell carcinoma by reviewing your medical history and asking questions about your symptoms and lifestyle, such as when you first noticed the lesion, if anyone in your family had skin cancer, and if you examine your skin on a regular basis.
After gathering this information, your provider physically examines your skin. If necessary, your provider might also take a biopsy. A biopsy is a sample of skin that’s sent to a lab for observation and testing.
Annexus Dermatology & Aesthetics treats basal cell carcinoma by removing the cancerous skin and surrounding tissue during outpatient surgery. Depending on the severity of your cancer, they might recommend:
Surgical excision: During surgical excision, your provider carefully removes the cancerous lesion as well as a surrounding margin of healthy skin. Afterward, they test your healthy skin for cancerous cells. If you have a basal cell carcinoma on your chest, back, or hands, you might benefit from this type of treatment.
Mohs surgery: During Mohs surgery, your provider removes the cancerous lesion layer by layer under a microscope. After removing each layer, your provider examines it for the presence of cancerous cells. Your provider repeats this process until no cancerous cells remain. Following treatment, you’ll need to participate in regular skin checks. These in-office appointments can catch skin cancer early, should it recur.
IG-SRT (Gentle Cure):
Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy uses ultrasound images to precisely target the cancerous area and deliver a low dose of radiation. This is a painless and non-surgical form of treatment. The ultrasound images also show the cancer shrinking after each treatment. Our Gentle Cure Team uses a multi-disciplinary approach to treat each patient’s individual case with care. Click here to learn more about Gentle Cure.
To explore treatment options for basal cell carcinoma, schedule an appointment at Annexus Dermatology & Aesthetics. Call the office or book a consultation online today.
