What is basal cell carcinoma kids?
Basal cell carcinoma.
It’s a very treatable cancer. It starts in the basal cell layer of the skin (epidermis) and grows very slowly. The cancer usually appears as a small, shiny bump or nodule on the skin. It occurs mainly on areas exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, arms, hands, and face.
Is Basal Cell Carcinoma common in teens?
Risk Factors for Basal Cell Carcinoma
Anyone with a history of sun exposure can develop basal cell carcinoma. The disease is rarely seen in children, but occasionally a teenager is affected.
Can a 16 year old get basal cell carcinoma?
Nonmelanoma skin cancer rates in teens are on the rise. Although most basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are diagnosed in older adults, more of these cancers are being diagnosed in teenagers than they were in the past.
Can a 7 year old get skin cancer?
It’s technically possible for a young child to get melanoma, but it’s vanishingly rare. Only about 400 cases of melanoma a year affect Americans under 20. Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes (the cells that give the skin its pigmentation, or color) grow out of control.
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.
Can a 9 year old get melanoma?
In fact, melanoma is rare in young children. Even so, there are times when a mole should be checked by a dermatologist just to be sure. Caught early, melanoma is highly treatable.
What did your 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 is basal cell nevus syndrome?
Listen to pronunciation. (BAY-sul sel NEE-vus SIN-drome) A rare, inherited disorder that affects many organs and tissues in the body. People with this disorder have a very high risk of developing basal cell skin cancer during adolescence or early adulthood.
At what age do people get basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinoma most often appears in older adults
To break it down further, people who are aged 50 to 80 are affected most often, and the average age at diagnosis is 67 years old.
Can you pick off a basal cell carcinoma?
Yes, you might be able to pick this crusty lesion off with your fingers. But it would grow back. The right thing to do is see a dermatologist and have it removed.
Where does basal cell carcinoma occur?
About 8 out of 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas (also called basal cell cancers). These cancers start in the basal cell layer, which is the lower part of the epidermis. These cancers usually develop on sun-exposed areas, especially the face, head, and neck. They tend to grow slowly.