BASAL CELL SKIN CANCER

General information

Basal cell skin cancer is the most common malignant skin disease. The tumor develops from the cells of the basal (the deepest) layer of the epidermis. The sick rate increases with age. People with white skin suffer from this disease more often than dark-skinned people. The direct connection between the time spent in direct sunlight and the frequency of basal cell carcinoma has been proved. People who work outdoors or live in areas with high solar radiation have an increased risk of disease.

Causes of disease

The cause of any malignant disease is damage to the genetic material of cells, which occurs under the influence of various environmental factors and leads to uncontrolled growth and proliferation of pathological tissue.

Risk factors for basal cell skin cancer include:
– excessive insolation;
– light skin color;
– elderly age;
– intake of immunosuppressive agents.

Symptoms
Basal cell skin cancer commonly occurs in exposed parts of the skin — such as the head, face, neck, arms, and parts of the torso that are open for sunlight. Depending on the clinical form of the disease, basal cell carcinoma may look like a reddish peeling erosion, bleeding ulcer, pigment formation, a small pearl-pink node with ulceration in the center, a dense yellowish waxy plaque, etc.

Skin cancer can look like dermatitis or other inflammatory skin changes. That is why if you see any neoplasm on the skin that do not disappear over time (more than 2-3 weeks), you need to consult a dermatologist.

Treatment

Basal cell skin cancer is well treatable and rarely metastasizes. Therefore, with timely visit to the doctor and compliance with all his recommendations, the patient has a chance for a complete cure.

The choice of therapy method depends on the histological variant and tumor s. As a rule, various options of surgical treatment (electrocoagulation, excision, cryodestruction) and radiation therapy are used. In some cases, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are used.

Metastasises
The tumor is characterized by slow growth. The frequency of metastasis does not exceed 0.1%. The risk of relapse and metastasis depends on the site, histological characteristics of the tumor and the body condition.

Prevention of Basal cell skin cancer

Most malignant skin tumors are caused by prolonged exposure to UV irradiation. And prevention is reduced to limiting this exposure: you should be keen on solarium and being for a long time under the bright sun, especially in the midday hours. When you travel to hot countries, try to wear light closed light-colored clothing.

If you or your next of kin have ever been treated for malignant skin tumors, try to visit a dermatologist regularly for preventive examinations.