Basal Cell Carcinoma is the skin cancer and it starts from the basal cells which is the type of skin cells present within the skin and responsible for creating new skin cells when the old ones die. Basal Cell Carcinoma usually looks like a waxy bump, but in some people it may take another form. This type of skin cancer usually occurs in areas of your skin that are mostly exposed to sunlight like your neck and face. It is believed that Basal Cell Carcinoma is caused in skin when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays for prolonged period of time. So avoiding the harmful rays from sun and using sunscreen can help protect you from developing Basal Cell Carcinoma.

What are the Symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma?

As mentioned, Basal Cell Carcinoma is caused on skin which is mostly exposed to sunlight like your neck, face and head. In very rare cases, it occurs on legs and trunk. The common sign of Basal Cell Carcinoma is the sore which won’t heal for longer term and bleeds repeatedly and scabs over. The Basal Cell Carcinoma may look like:

• Pearly white or waxy bump with visible blood vessels on neck, face or ears
• Scaly, flat, brown or fleshy colored patch on chest or back
• In rare cases, waxy or white scar which is too easy to ignore.

What are the Causes of Basal Cell Carcinoma?

When one of your skin’s basal cells develops mutation in its DNA, Basal Cell Carcinoma occurs. This type of skin cancer is found at bottom of epidermis. The role of the basal cell is to produce new skin cells and the new cells push older cells towards skin’s surface when it die and sloughed off.

The formation of new cells is controlled by the DNA of basal cells and the mutation in DNA causes the basal cells to multiply continuously. It grows continuously until it normally dies. So, the accumulation of the excessive abnormal cells may form into cancerous tumour.

Most of the damaging to the DNA of basal cells is caused due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays released by sunlight, tanning beds and commercial tanning lamps.

The Risk Factors of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Some of the risk factors that increase the chance of developing Basal Cell Carcinoma include:

• Continuous exposure to sunlight – People who spent long time under sunlight or under commercial tanning booths are likely to develop Basal Cell Carcinoma.
• Exposure to Radiation – Psoralen Plus ultraviolet A treatments for treating the psoriasis may also increase the risk of developing Basal Cell Carcinoma and other types of skin cancer.
• People who have very light skin tone may get easy sunburns and hence they are also at the risk of having Basal Cell Carcinoma as compared to people with darker skin.
• Women are most likely to develop Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Basal Cell Carcinoma usually takes decades to develop and it occurs in people that are older than 50 years
• Families with the history of skin cancer also increase the risk of developing Basal Cell Carcinoma again in other family members.
• Taking immune suppressing drugs especially after transplant surgery also increase the risk of developing skin cancer like Basal Cell Carcinoma

Diagnosis of Basal Cell Carcinoma

In order to diagnose Basal Cell Carcinoma, doctors may conduct few tests.

• Skin Examination – Doctors would examine the areas of your skin that are suspicious and also check the skin across your body for other conditions.
• Removing Skin as Sample – Doctors may also do a skin biopsy that involves removing for small skin sample from unusual skin for further testing. With this test, they will find out if your skin has any type of cancer.

Treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma

There are a variety of treatments available for Basal Cell Carcinoma and the best treatment depends on the location, type and severity of the skin cancer. Some of the commonly prescribed treatment options for Basal Cell Carcinoma include:

• Electodesiccation and Curettage
• Surgical Excision
• Freezing
• Mohs Surgery
• Topical Treatments
• Medications for advanced skin cancer

These were some of the treatment options which are commonly prescribed to patients with Basal Cell Carcinoma.