Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer characterized by a mass that bleeds easily and can grow every year. Its size is usually painless and appears in areas of the body that are often exposed to sunlight. If you do not receive proper treatment, basal cell carcinoma can cause complications in the form of cancer spread to other organs, such as bones and blood vessels.
Symptoms of basal cell carcinoma
This disease is characterized by skin growth as clots that contain blood vessels. The size is not painful, bleeds easily and is pink, brown or black. Symptoms of basal cell carcinoma usually appear in areas of the body that are often exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neck and hands. In rare cases, basal cell carcinoma can also occur in areas of the body that are not exposed to sunlight, such as the breast.
Appearance sizes may vary for each person, including:
The rash is flat, scaly and reddish.
Lesions such as scratches, white, soft, without clear wound lines.
Causes of basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the impact of mutations or changes in basal cell DNA. Basal cells are cells located at the very bottom of the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). These cells produce new cells and encourage or reject old cells on the surface of the skin. Old cells that are successfully pushed to the surface of the skin will exfoliate. When basal cell DNA abnormalities occur, the function of the basal cell itself will be disrupted and will cause an uncontrolled cell buildup in the skin and cancer cell formation.
Sun exposure is common and is considered a major factor in basal cell DNA modification. Therefore, someone who is often outdoors and exposed to sunlight is at high risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.
Besides being exposed to sunlight, several other factors can increase the risk of basal cell carcinoma, namely:
Diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma
When diagnosed, the doctor will first look for symptoms that appear, history of the disease, and the patient's overall condition. After that, the examination can proceed to a biopsy. During the biopsy process, doctors take samples of the problematic skin and examine it in a laboratory using a microscope to determine the condition and causes.
Treatment of basal cell carcinoma
Management of basal cell carcinoma is done by administering drugs or surgery. Some of the operations that can be performed to treat basal cell carcinoma include:
In addition to surgery, treatment of basal cell carcinoma can also be done by applying topical medications. Some of them are:
In addition to topical medications, doctors can also give oral drugs (capsules) such as vismodegib (erivedge) or sonidegib (for example odomzo) when other methods are not effective in treating basal cell carcinoma. These drugs are also used when the cancer has spread to other areas. Whenever possible, avoid taking medication without your doctor's advice. Incorrect doses can increase the risk of side effects from drug use.
Complications of basal cell carcinoma
Complications that can occur in patients with basal cell carcinoma include:
Prevention of basal cell carcinoma
Some efforts that can be done to reduce the risk of basal cell carcinoma include:
This disease is characterized by skin growth as clots that contain blood vessels. The size is not painful, bleeds easily and is pink, brown or black. Symptoms of basal cell carcinoma usually appear in areas of the body that are often exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neck and hands. In rare cases, basal cell carcinoma can also occur in areas of the body that are not exposed to sunlight, such as the breast.
Appearance sizes may vary for each person, including:
The rash is flat, scaly and reddish.
Lesions such as scratches, white, soft, without clear wound lines.
Causes of basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the impact of mutations or changes in basal cell DNA. Basal cells are cells located at the very bottom of the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). These cells produce new cells and encourage or reject old cells on the surface of the skin. Old cells that are successfully pushed to the surface of the skin will exfoliate. When basal cell DNA abnormalities occur, the function of the basal cell itself will be disrupted and will cause an uncontrolled cell buildup in the skin and cancer cell formation.
Sun exposure is common and is considered a major factor in basal cell DNA modification. Therefore, someone who is often outdoors and exposed to sunlight is at high risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.
Besides being exposed to sunlight, several other factors can increase the risk of basal cell carcinoma, namely:
- Has undergone radiotherapy (radiotherapy).
- Above 50 years.
- Have a family member suffering from basal cell carcinoma.
- Use of immunosuppressive drugs.
- Exposed to arsenic poison.
- Having a congenital disease that can cause skin cancer, such as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.
Diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma
When diagnosed, the doctor will first look for symptoms that appear, history of the disease, and the patient's overall condition. After that, the examination can proceed to a biopsy. During the biopsy process, doctors take samples of the problematic skin and examine it in a laboratory using a microscope to determine the condition and causes.
Treatment of basal cell carcinoma
Management of basal cell carcinoma is done by administering drugs or surgery. Some of the operations that can be performed to treat basal cell carcinoma include:
- Electrodication and curettage. This procedure is usually used to treat small cancers. During the process, the doctor will cut the cancerous tissue on the surface of the skin and then control the bleeding, while killing the remaining cancer cells with a special electric needle.
- Cut with a scalpel. This procedure is used if the cancer is large enough. In this procedure, the treatment of basal cell carcinoma is done by removing the cancer associated with the surrounding skin. The doctor will then examine the skin under a microscope to make sure there are no more cancer cells left.
- Cryotherapy. This procedure uses a special liquid containing nitrogen to freeze and kill cancer cells. Cryotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that is thin and not too deep in the skin.
- Operation Mohs. This procedure is commonly used to treat recurrent basal cell carcinoma or on the face and is quite large. During the process, the doctor will gradually remove the problematic layers of the skin. Each layer will be examined under a microscope to ensure there are no cancer cells left in the skin.
In addition to surgery, treatment of basal cell carcinoma can also be done by applying topical medications. Some of them are:
- Imiquimod (for example aldara).
- Fluorouracil (for example Fluroplex).
In addition to topical medications, doctors can also give oral drugs (capsules) such as vismodegib (erivedge) or sonidegib (for example odomzo) when other methods are not effective in treating basal cell carcinoma. These drugs are also used when the cancer has spread to other areas. Whenever possible, avoid taking medication without your doctor's advice. Incorrect doses can increase the risk of side effects from drug use.
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 also occur in one place.
- Other types 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.
Prevention of basal cell carcinoma
Some efforts that can be done to reduce the risk of basal cell carcinoma include:
- Avoid prolonged and frequent sun exposure.
- Use sunscreen or sunblock during outdoor activities.
- Use closed clothes.
- Perform routine checks.
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