Basal cell carcinoma
The most common skin cancer, and the one with the best outlook. Its sign is a sore that never quite heals.
What it looks like
- A pearly or shiny lesion, sometimes with fine vessels across it.
- That bleeds easily when rubbed or dried.
- That scabs and reopens, in cycles.
- Sometimes an ulcer with a raised edge.
- Other times a pink patch that looks like eczema that won't respond.
It appears mostly on the face, nose, ears, eyelids and chest — the areas with the most accumulated sun.
Why not to wait
It grows slowly and almost never spreads to other organs. That is the reason for its good prognosis.
But it does destroy what is around it. On a nose, an eyelid or near an ear, every month of waiting means more tissue involved and a larger reconstruction.
The practical rule: a sore that has gone more than a month without healing is not a pimple.
Diagnosis and treatment
Examination with a dermatoscope and a biopsy when there is suspicion: the diagnosis comes from the tissue.
Treatment is usually surgical, with margins, and there are other options for selected cases. It is decided with the pathology report in hand, not before.
Frequently asked questions
Is it serious?
It has the best outlook of the skin cancers. Treated in time it is resolved; what complicates it is letting it grow.
Can it be treated with a cream?
There are topical treatments for very selected superficial cases. It is not the rule, and the physician decides with the biopsy.
Can I get another one?
Someone who has had one is more likely to have another, because the skin in that area carries accumulated damage. That is why periodic checks matter.
Shall we take a look?
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