What is the skin cancer "basal cell carcinoma"?handheld dermatoscopePrecursors, symptoms, and treatment of basal cell carcinoma

During the day, strong ultraviolet radiation, not only easy to sunburn or grow dark spots, but also may suffer from skin cancer. Australian-born Hollywood heavyweight Hugh Jackman revealed he was diagnosed with a "basal cell carcinoma" skin condition in 2013 because he had not used sunscreen in the past, electronic dermatoscope and while his symptoms improved after surgery, they still came back and required repeated excision.

Not only Hugh Jackman, but also a considerable number of patients in Taiwan Province suffer from basal cell carcinoma. What are the causes of basal cell carcinoma? "Hello Doctor" will let you know the common symptoms and treatments of basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer in Taiwan Province, as well as short steps to prevent it.

What is skin cancer "basal cell carcinoma"? 365nm UV Lamp What are the important causes of disease?

Basal cell carcinoma is a malignant basal cell carcinoma of the skin, located mainly under the epidermis and composed of poorly developed cells. According to 108 cancer registration reports released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, a total of 2,262 people in Taiwan suffered from basal cell carcinoma, accounting for about half of all skin cancer cases and the highest incidence of all types of skin cancer.

Dr. He Yingyou, a dermatologist at the sixth branch of Chengda Hospital, said that basal cell carcinoma is common in elderly people over 60 years old, and the older the age, the higher the risk of disease. Long-term exposure to UV rays without sun protection is the main cause of basal cell carcinoma, which occurs more often on the face, neck, forearm or back of hand. (Recommended reading: Sunburn 5 times cancer risk doubled! Learn about the relationship between UV light and skin cancer)

In addition, a family history of skin cancer, drinking water containing the heavy metal arsenic, exposure to radiation, or lack of immunity are all risk factors for developing basal cell carcinoma.

Basal cell cancer

The precursors and symptoms of skin cancer "basal cell carcinoma"

The appearance of basal cell carcinoma lesions is often red, fleshly or black tumors, at first they look like our common moles, easy to be ignored by patients. Until all the lesions gradually grow, the expansion of microvessels can be seen around the tumor, and even more serious symptoms such as ulcers and bleeding will be noticed by the patient.

When should you check for the skin cancer basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma cancer cells spread only about 1% to 1 ‰ of the time. Once it begins to metastasize, it will spread down from the skin to deep tissues such as muscles, bones or nerves, with lymph nodes and lungs being the most common sites for cancer cells to metastasize. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with the above symptoms should seek medical attention as soon as possible, and ask the doctor for further diagnosis to prevent the spread of cancer cells.

Methods for diagnosing basal cell carcinoma

The diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma is similar to other types of skin cancer. First, the doctor will give the patient a preliminary diagnosis through a physical examination. If the doctor suspects that skin cancer may be present, the doctor will further biopsy the patient to see the type and stage of skin cancer under a microscope.

In addition, the doctor may use computed tomography (CT), X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other imaging methods to confirm the condition as appropriate. (You also wonder: Can a long circle of skin snakes be deadly? Learn about snake symptoms and treatments)

Methods for diagnosing basal cell carcinoma

How is basal cell carcinoma treated?

Doctors will mainly based on the size of the basal cell carcinoma, the geographical location, the number of problems and the type of tumor, and consider the patient's age and health status, and finally give appropriate treatment recommendations.

For patients with basal cell carcinoma, surgical resection is usually recommended to effectively eradicate the disease. However, if a patient has metastatic disease, it may be necessary to undergo chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments to ensure that cancer cells do not remain in their body.

In addition to surgical resection, other treatments for basal cell carcinoma include photodynamic therapy, curettage and electrocautery, cryotherapy, and topical application of drugs.