BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

[reko17]

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

Basal cell carcinoma is a slow growing, non-melanoma skin cancer, that is locally invasive. It originates from the basal cell layers of the epidermis. It is the most common types of skin cancer (>75%) affecting the UK population. 

Common risk factors for BCC
Exposure to sunlight/UV radiation
sunbed
sunburn in early life
Light-colored skin/blue eyes (more prone to develop BCC)
Burns, chronic ulcers
Rare: familial condition called Gorlin's syndrome 
Management/Treatments of BCC
Excision: Cutting out the skin cancer and stitching the skin together
Curettage and electrodesiccation: Scraping away cancer cells and using electricity to kill any that remain
Cryosurgery: Freezing the cancer cells, which kills them
Medication: Skin creams containing imiquimod or 5-fluorouracil for superficial (not very deep) basal cell cancer
Mohs surgery: Removing a layer of skin and looking at it immediately under a microscope, then removing many layers of skin until there are no signs of the cancer; usually used for skin cancers on the nose, ears, and other areas of the face.
Photodynamic therapy: Treatment using light

Margins for excision (to achieve a cure rate of >95%)
4 mm free surgical margin for a small tumour (less than 6mm)
6 mm free surgical margin is obtained around a larger tumour (greater than 6mm)