Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer characterized by lumps that bleed easily and can get bigger every year. These bumps are generally painless and appear on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun. If you don't get the right treatment, basal cell carcinoma can lead to complications in the form of spreading the cancer to other organs, such as bones and blood vessels.
Symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma
This disease is characterized by the growth of the skin in the form of lumps that have blood vessels in it. The lump is painless, bleeds easily, and is pink, brown, or black in color. Symptoms of basal cell carcinoma usually appear in areas of the body that are often exposed to the sun, such as the face, eyelids, neck, and hands. In rare cases, basal cell carcinoma can also occur in areas of the body that are not exposed to the sun, such as the breasts.
The appearance of the lump can be different for each person, including:
- The rash is flat, scaly, and red.
- The lesions are scab-like, white, tender, with no clear wound edges.
Causes of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the result of a mutation or change in the DNA of the basal cell. Basal cells are cells located at the very bottom of the outermost layer of skin (epidermis). These cells function to produce new cells, and push or throw old cells to the surface of the skin. Old cells that are successfully pushed to the surface of the skin will then peel off. When there is an abnormality in basal cell DNA, the function of the basal cell itself will be disrupted and cause uncontrolled cell production to accumulate in the skin and form cancer cells.
Frequent and prolonged exposure to sunlight is thought to be the main factor causing changes in the basal cell DNA. Therefore, someone who is often active outdoors and exposed to sunlight, has a high risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.
In addition to sun exposure, there are several other factors that can increase the risk of basal cell carcinoma, namely:
- Have had radiation therapy (radiotherapy).
- Over 50 years old.
- Have a family member who has had basal cell carcinoma.
- Using immunosuppressive drugs.
- Exposure to arsenic poison.
- Having a hereditary disease that is at risk of causing skin cancer, such asnevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.
Diagnosis of Basal Cell Carcinoma
In diagnosing, the doctor will first examine the symptoms that appear, the history of the disease, and the patient's condition as a whole. After that, the examination can be continued with a biopsy. In the biopsy process, the doctor will take a sample from the problematic skin, then examine it in the laboratory using a microscope, to determine the condition and its cause.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment
Basal cell carcinoma is treated with medication or surgery. Some of the surgeries that can be performed to treat basal cell carcinoma include:
- Electrodation and curettage. This procedure is commonly used to treat small cancers. In the process, the doctor will cut the cancerous tissue on the surface of the skin, then control the bleeding, as well as kill any remaining cancer cells using a special electric needle.
- Cutting with psurgical issue. This procedure is used if the cancer is quite large. In this procedure, basal cell carcinoma is treated by cutting the existing cancer along with some of the skin around it. Then, the doctor will examine the skin under a microscope to make sure that there are no cancer cells left.
- cryotherapy. This procedure uses a special liquid containing nitrogen to freeze and kill cancer cells. Cryotherapy is commonly used to treat cancers that are thin and not too deep into the skin.
- Mohs operation. This procedure is commonly used to treat recurrent basal cell carcinomas, or those on the face and are quite large. In the process, the doctor will remove the problematic layer of skin, little by little. Each layer will be examined under a microscope to ensure that no cancer cells remain on the skin.
Every action performed will use anesthesia. Therefore, tell your doctor if you have a history of allergies to anesthetics. Patients should also consult with a doctor to find out the things that need to be considered, as well as the benefits and risks of the surgery that will be carried out.
In addition to surgery, basal cell carcinoma can also be treated with topical medications. Some of them are:
- Imiquimod (for example aldara).
- Fluorouracil (for example fluroplex).
In addition to topical medications, doctors can also give oral medications (capsules) such as: vismodegib (for example eriveedge) or sonidegib (for example odomzo) when other methods are ineffective in treating basal cell carcinoma. These drugs are also used when the cancer has spread to other areas. As much as possible, avoid using the drug without a doctor's advice. Inappropriate doses can increase the risk of side effects from using the drug.
Complications of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Complications that can occur in patients with basal cell carcinoma include:
- Recurrent basal cell carcinoma. This is the most common complication. Symptoms that appear can occur in the same location.
- Another type of skin cancer. For example, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma.
- Spread of cancer. Cancer can damage nearby organs, such as muscles, blood vessels, and bones.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Prevention
Some efforts that can be done to reduce the risk of basal cell carcinoma are:
- Avoid prolonged and frequent sun exposure.
- Use sunscreen or sunscreen when doing outdoor activities.
- Use covered clothing.
- Do regular checkups.