The most commonly diagnosed skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Every year, around four million cases are diagnosed worldwide. This cancer develops due to uncontrolled and abnormal growth of the basal cells. These cells are responsible for producing new skin cells as old cells die off. As the basal cell carcinoma grows gradually, they are usually curable and cause very little damage when detected and treated at an early stage.
Everything you need to know about basal cell carcinoma includes the following:
1. Causes
Among the three main forms of cells in the skin’s topmost layer, the basal cells shed, as new ones are formed. Basal cell carcinoma mostly develops when there is damage caused to the DNA due to exposure of the sun rays and the effect of ultraviolet rays. Sometimes, the cells can change due to indoor tanning triggers in the outer layer of the skin. This is known as the epidermis.
2. Symptoms
Basal cell carcinoma may look similar to shiny bumps, pink growths, growths that are slightly elevated with a rolled and indented in the center. They may also appear to be like red patches or sores that are open.
There are times when this type of skin cancer may begin to itch, bleed, crust, or ooze. Such lesions usually arise in areas of the body that are more exposed to the sun. People with darker skin have around half of the basal cell carcinoma pigmented which means they are brown. It is important to understand that basal cell carcinoma is different in every person.
Basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads beyond the original location of the tumor. If allowed to grow, such lesions can be dangerous and disfiguring.
3. Treatment
When the basal cell carcinoma is left untreated, it can grow deep and wide in the skin, becoming locally invasive and destroying the bone, tissue, and skin. Moreover, it needs to be treated as soon as possible, as it could recur. There are cases of basal cell carcinoma that are aggressive and may spread all over the body.
4. Statistics
This type of skin cancer has become quite common in the country. These statistical numbers have gradually seen a rise. Most of the skin cancer reported cases are the ones caused by basal cells. The treatment and the diagnosis of nonmelanoma skin cancers, which include squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, have seen a rise of around seventy-seven percent between 1994 to 2014.
Visit a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms and seek help. It is important to treat this condition as soon as possible, as any delay could make treatment difficult and ineffective.