Basal Cell Skin Cancer

Basal cell cancer is the most common type of non-melanoma skin cancer. It usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been in the sun. Often this cancer appears as a small raised bump that has a smooth, pearly appearance. Another type looks like a scar, and it is firm to the touch. Basal cell cancers may spread to tissues around the cancer, but it usually does not spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment may be one of the following:

• Surgery to remove the cancer and as little of the normal tissue as possible. During the surgery, the doctor removes the cancer and then uses a microscope to look at the surgical area to make sure no cancer cells remain (micrographic surgery).

• Surgery to remove the cancer from the skin along with some of the healthy skin around the cancer.

• Surgery that uses an electric current to dehydrate the tumour (electro-desiccation), then uses a specialized surgical tool (curette) to remove the tumour.

• Surgery that freezes and kills the cancer (cryosurgery).

    Basal cell carcinoma of the nose

• Radiation therapy.

• Surgery using a highly focused beam of light that destroys only the cancer cells (laser therapy).

• Topical chemotherapy.

• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

• A clinical trial of biological therapy.

• A technique that uses light-sensitive drugs to kill the cancer (photodynamic therapy).

It is important to have the skin examined regularly so the cancer can be treated if it comes back (recurs).