What does superficial basal cell carcinoma look like?
At first, a basal cell carcinoma comes up like a small “pearly” bump that looks like a flesh-colored mole or a pimple that doesn’t go away. Sometimes these growths can look dark. Or you may also see shiny pink or red patches that are slightly scaly. Another symptom to watch out for is a waxy, hard skin growth.
What does infiltrative BCC look like?
Infiltrating or morpheaform BCCs tend to appear as scar-like growths on the skin. They can be slightly shiny, and sometimes have telangiectasias, sores (erosions), or scabs on their surfaces. These skin changes can be subtle. Superficial BCCs often appear as pink or red dry, scaly spots.
What does aggressive basal cell carcinoma look like?
What does BCC look like? BCCs can look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, scars or growths with slightly elevated, rolled edges and/or a central indentation. At times, BCCs may ooze, crust, itch or bleed. The lesions commonly arise in sun-exposed areas of the body.
How do I know if I have basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma?
Rough or scaly red patches, which might crust or bleed. Small, pink or red, shiny, pearly bumps, which might have blue, brown, or black areas. Pink growths or lumps with raised edges and a lower center. Open sores (which may have oozing or crusted areas) that don’t heal, or that heal and then come back.
What happens if basal cell goes untreated?
This type of skin cancer needs to be treated and has a high cure rate. If left untreated, basal cell carcinomas can become quite large, cause disfigurement, and in rare cases, spread to other parts of the body and cause death. Your skin covers your body and protects it from the environment.
How quickly does basal cell carcinoma spread?
The tumors enlarge very slowly, sometimes so slowly that they go unnoticed as new growths. However, the growth rate varies greatly from tumor to tumor, with some growing as much as ½ inch (about 1 centimeter) in a year.
What is the average size of a basal cell carcinoma?
Average diameter of lesions was 12.2 mm; the biggest lesion measured 5.3 cm, the smallest 0.2 cm. Margins taken were 3 to 5 mm on cervico-facial area, 2-3 mm on noble areas as lips, ears, and eyelid and 5 to 10 mm on other areas.
How serious is infiltrative basal cell carcinoma?
Although BCCs are almost never fatal, local tissue destruction and disfiguration occur. The metastasis rate of BCCs is approximately 1 in 35 000. Metastasis is rare and typically occurs through perineural spread, lymph node metastasis, and then lung / bone metastasis.
Is basal cell carcinoma malignant or benign?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is most often a benign form of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. However, it’s the most frequently occurring form of all skin cancers, with more than 3 million people developing BCC in the U.S. every year.
Can basal cell carcinoma make you feel unwell?
Side effects may include muscle cramps, hair loss, weight loss, fatigue and loss of sense of taste.
Why do I keep getting basal cell carcinomas?
Most basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are caused by repeated and unprotected skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight, as well as from man-made sources such as tanning beds. UV rays can damage the DNA inside skin cells.
Does basal cell carcinoma grow deep?
Basal cell carcinoma spreads very slowly and very rarely will metastasize, Dr. Christensen says. But if it’s not treated, basal cell carcinoma can continue to grow deeper under the skin and cause significant destruction to surrounding tissues. It can even become fatal.