What's basal cell cancer?

Question

Are basal cell cancers very bad, or are they easily treated by cutting the cancer out?

Answer 1

Fairly tame but...: It's a skin cancer usually from sun exposure. Surgical excision almost always results in a cure, and moh's microsurgery can leave almost no scar if that matters. It rarely spreads to remote sites, but it is quite capable of eating through your skull and into your brain if you choose to ignore it. Good luck.

Answer 2

Most common skin CA: Most common skin cancer, spreads locally and can be destructive, but not fatal. Occurs most often on sun exposed areas. This cancer does not spread thru the lymphatics or bloodstream like squamous cell or melanoma. But important to get treated or can cause great damage (ie: erode into the nose, eyes, ears, spread into the brain, go deep in the nerves and muscles causing damage).

Answer 3

Skin cancer: This skin cancer commonly looks like a flesh-colored nodule with a hole chewed out of the center. It might not catch your attention at first. However, it needs to be removed early because over time it invades more deeply and requires a much larger surgery. Any nodule that could be a basal cell carcinoma should be removed. See the picture for an example.

Answer 4

Locally: There are a few people who are usually older or have a poor immune system, but typically basal cell carcinomas are locally invasive. There are areas such as the eyelid, inside the ear, and nose where you have to be careful to adequately treat basal cell carcinomas with mohs surgery to totally remove the cancer.

Answer 5

Yes, but...: Like all cancers, basal cell cancers grow progressively with time, and will spread and invade nearby tissues. The good news with basal cell cancers, is that it is extremely rare for them to metastasize to lymph nodes or or distant sites. If the primary tumor is completely removed, it should be cured.

Answer 6

Yes: Basal cell cancer spreads locally, invading and destroying tissues as it moves. It does not generally metastasize to remote parts of the body.

Answer 7

Yes: It is important to treat them early to avoid more complicated treatment. Mohs surgery has a 97%cure rate.

Answer 8

Yes: Every once in a while, it spreads to a remote site. However, you might do well to find some pictures of what an untreated, neglected basal cell carcinoma will do locally. Lost / mutilated eyes, lost / mutilated noses, and ulcers opening right into the brain are avoidable if you're treated promptly. Congratulations on finding it -- and good luck with your treatment.

Answer 9

Yes, but unlikely: Basal cell cancers (bcc) are the most common type of cancer on the skin. While they can grow aggressively locally if neglected, they are very unlikely to spread elsewhere in the body. Most bccs can be treated with surgery, curretting, and certain ones can even be treated with a cream. Larger bccs and those in sensitive areas should be treatd by a fellowship trained mohs surgeon.

Answer 10

Yes: Basal cell can continue to spread locally and be destructive if it's not completely removed. It rarely metastasizes and is fatal (unlike squamous cell or melanoma). But it can cause deformities or loss of function (ie: blindness if around the eyes), hearing loss or loss of use of a joint or digit if not treated in time. There are slow growing and aggressive tumor so difficult to predict behavior.

Answer 11

No: If it ulcerates it could become secondarily infected but only of extensive and deep.

Answer 12

No transmission: Basal cells (and other cancers) are never infectious in terms of being spread from person to person. There is no risk of transmitting the cancer from one person to another. However, if you are around a weeping or bloody wound of any kind you should always wear gloves. The cancer may not be infectious, but other viruses and diseases can be spread.

Answer 13

No!: Basal cell carcinoma (bcc) is a type of skin cancer involving the basal layer of the upper layer of skin. It is the most common type of skin cancer. If the lesion has ulcerated there is a risk of it becoming infected, but in no way is this or any type of skin cancer infectious. Bccs are caused by genetic damage that occurs from ultraviolet radiation, smoking also increases the risk for bccs.

Answer 14

Unlikely: There is a difference in color. Between the basal cell and skin but part of the basal cell may not be readily noticeable until a biopsy and be the same colr as the skin.

Answer 15

Depends...: In contrast, melanomas are typically pigmented like a freckle or mole. Basal cells are usually not pigmented (but they can be). They do have a distinct apperance: typically pearly in appearance with prominent blood vessels and sometimes ulceration. If you notice any such lesions, have them checked out.

Answer 16

Yep: It can, but usually it is raised.

Answer 17

Yes: Yes, it can be the same color of the regular skin and so can other skin cancers.

What's basal cell cancer?

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