What is basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, in which the cells of the lowermost layer of the epidermis are affected. There are three types of cells in the skin:
- Squamous cells: these are found on the outer part of the epidermis and are shed as the skin regenerates. They can also be affected by carcinoma, although this is less common.
- Basal cells: these cells are found in the inner part of the epidermis and are constantly dividing to replace the squamous cells that are shed from the skin, eventually becoming squamous cells.
- Melanocytes: these are the cells that produce melanin, the sun-blocking substance that allows the skin to tan. These cells protect the deeper layers of the skin.
Approximately eight out of ten skin cancers are of this type, affecting the basal cells. They appear mostly on the face and neck, and grow slowly.
Prognosis of the disease
As with many other types of cancer, it is a serious disease that requires treatment. If left untreated, it can metastasize and spread to surrounding areas and affect other tissues, bones and organs.
On the other hand, it is a very slow-growing type of skin cancer, so it has a good prognosis for cure with early diagnosis.
Symptoms of basal cell carcinoma
Because it is a slow-growing carcinoma, it may not present symptoms for a long time. Instead, the symptoms it may present is a distinct appearance on the skin, such as:
- Skin lumpiness.
- Pearly, waxy, very pale, pink or brownish skin region.
- Scaly red patch of skin.
- Lesion that bleeds easily.
- Persistent sore or scar.
Basal cell carcinoma may appear as a brown, pink, paler, or even scaly area.
Medical tests for basal cell carcinoma
The dermatologist will perform a physical examination to look for suspicious areas of carcinoma. To determine the diagnosis, a biopsy will be performed, which will consist of removing a sample of the affected skin to analyze its cells in a laboratory.
What are the causes of basal cell carcinoma?
Most basal cell carcinomas are caused by exposure to the sun, in areas that have been exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation. It usually occurs after middle age, due to the accumulation of sun damage to the skin, but it can also appear in young people who have overexposed their skin to the sun.
On the other hand, people with one or more of the following characteristics are more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma:
- Very pale skin, freckled or with many moles.
- Blond or red hair
- Light-colored eyes: blue or green
- Family history of skin cancer
- Multiple sunburns or sun exposure
- Smokers
- Other skin diseases
- Having a weak immune system
Can it be prevented?
Basal cell carcinoma can be prevented by avoiding sun exposure or ultraviolet radiation. The best prevention is to avoid excessive sun exposure and sunburn.
The use of a sunscreen with a sun protection factor is essential to avoid the damage that the sun causes to the skin.
On the other hand, as it is a carcinoma of slow evolution, it can be prevented by early diagnosis. For this purpose, an annual dermatological examination is recommended, where pigmented lesions and their evolution will be observed.
Treatments for basal cell carcinoma
Treatment of the carcinoma will depend on its location and degree of evolution:
- Excising the area affected by the carcinoma, using stitches to join the skin.
- Scraping of the cancerous cells, with subsequent electrodesiccation to destroy the remaining ones.
- Cryosurgery to freeze the cancer cells and destroy them.
- Application of topical treatments.
- Mohs surgery: removal of the affected skin layers.
- Photodynamic therapy: treats cancer cells with light in shallow carcinomas.
- Radiotherapy or chemotherapy: may be necessary, especially in cases of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Which specialist treats it?
The dermatologist is the specialist in charge of diagnosing skin pathologies, and will be the one who will determine the carcinoma. Depending on the degree and progression of the disease, it is likely that the patient will require radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment with the oncologist specialist.