Basal cell skin cancer is known to develop on any part of the skin that gets a lot of exposure to the sun. If you've been diagnosed with this kind of cancer, chances are that you're very concerned about what you should do. While it can be serious and sometimes disfiguring if left untreated, doctors are confident that it's the least threatening of all the skin cancers, as long as it is caught early on.
Basal Cell Skin Cancer Causes:
The main cause of basal cell skin cancer is the sun's UV rays or the lights found in many tanning salons. When these rays come in direct contact with the skin they can cause a slight mutation in the DNA. Since the DNA actually dictates how these skin cells grow, they can speed up the process of how they multiply causing lesions and tumors on the parts of the skin that are regularly exposed. However, developing this condition takes time, often years of exposure before it actually appears.
Basal Cell Skin Cancer Symptoms:
Basal cell skin cancers do not look the same. Some people may notice a dome shaped growth on the skin with blood vessels visible below the surface. Others report that they developed a pearly bump that looks more like a mole or a pimple. Some cancers may even develop a hard, waxy patch that builds up on the surface of the skin. If you have any of these lesions, patches, or bumps, know that they tend to bleed very easily.
When to See the Doctor:
If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible. Tell him about how much time you spend in the sun, and if you have had painful sunburns in the past, if you used sunscreen, or if you visited tanning salons. Your doctor will probably ask you about any areas of the skin that bleed easily or have difficulty healing. He may take a biopsy and have it tested in the lab to confirm the diagnosis.
Basal Cell Skin Cancer Treatments:
The purpose of treatment is to reduce or reverse the growth of the cancer cells. Depending on how far the advancement has progressed, your doctor will determine the best option for treatment of the cancer. He may cut the tumor out in an outpatient procedure, or he may opt to scrape the tumor away and kill the remaining cancer cells through electrical stimulation. Other doctors do something called "cryosurgery" where they kill the cells by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. Radiation therapy and surgery are also possible options.
Your best bet for the treatment of basal cell skin cancer is to try to lower your risk of developing it. That means avoiding spending extended periods of time in the sun, using sunscreen regularly, and making sure that you're covered up as much as possible when you go out. This means wearing long sleeved shorts and long pants.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with basal cell skin cancer has good reason to be concerned. While the advancement of the disease moves much more slowly than other cancers, it is no reason to relax. Once you've been diagnosed, the disease will continue to spread. The best bet to minimize its progress is to follow the doctor's treatments and avoid any exposure that will encourage advanced growth of the disease.