Basal Cell Carcinoma on the forehead

TREATMENT: MOHS skin cancer surgery.

PURPOSE: To excise the lesion in layers or stages as the face is a delicate area to perform surgery on.

HOW IT WORKS: The cancerous lesion is numbed by injection with lidocaine and then excised. The pathology is then done in house to see if all of the cancer is removed. If not, another "layer" is then excised. The procedure is repeated until the margins are clear of all cancer. The surgical site is then sutured closed.

ANESTHESIA: Repeated injections of lidocaine directly into the lesion.

TIME IT TAKES: Anywhere from 1-8 hours depending upon how many layers of cancer need to be removed.

RECOVERY: Several hours for pain, sometimes up to 24 hours.

PAIN LEVEL: Medium.

Meet our incredible patient Sally! After discovering she had skin cancer she came to us at the Staiano Clinic to have her Basal cell carcinoma's removed. Watch her amazing story!

*music by bensound

Basal cells produce new skin cells as old ones die. Limiting sun exposure can help prevent these cells from becoming cancerous. Most basal cell carcinomas are thought to be caused by long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. Avoiding the sun and using sunscreen may help protect against basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma most often appears in older adults

While people 20 years and younger can certainly get basal cell cancer, it's far more likely in adults who are over 50. 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.

Basal cell cancer is the most common form of skin cancer, accounting for nearly 80% of all skin cancers. Basal cell cancers arise from abnormal basal cells in the skin. It is rarely fatal, but it can be locally aggressive.

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. Basal cell carcinomas rarely spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

When detected early, most basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) can be treated and cured. Prompt treatment is vital, because as the tumor grows, it becomes more dangerous and potentially disfiguring, requiring more extensive treatment. Certain rare, aggressive forms can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Basal cell carcinoma very rarely reaches an advanced stage, so systemic chemotherapy is not typically used to treat these cancers. Advanced basal cell cancers are more likely to be treated with targeted therapy.

#skincancer #basalcarcinoma #carcinoma