Basal cell carcinoma: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition

What is basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common and common types of skin cancer. In fact, this disease affects more patients than squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

This disease begins in the basal skin cells, which are skin cells that produce new skin after the old skin has died. Basal cell carcinoma usually appears as a lump on the skin in areas that are frequently exposed to sunlight, such as the head or neck.

Basal cell carcinoma tends to grow slowly. In fact, this disease almost never spreads to other parts of the body. However, if it is left untreated for too long, this disease can grow to affect the condition of the bones and tissues under the skin that are problematic.

In addition, this condition must be treated thoroughly. The reason is, if in the treatment process there is still cancer remaining in the skin, this disease has the potential to reappear in other parts of the skin.

It is suspected that this disease occurs due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation obtained from sunlight. To avoid this, you can protect your skin by using sunscreen every time you go out of the house.

How common is basal cell carcinoma?

Compared to two other types of skin cancer, namely squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, this disease is classified as the most common disease in skin cancer patients.

According to a study published in the Journal of General-Procedural of Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia states that most people with this disease are women who are in the age group of more than 60 years.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma?

Although this disease often occurs on sun-exposed skin, it does not mean that basal cell carcinoma cannot appear on other areas of the skin. Yes, this disease can also appear in areas of the skin that are not even exposed to sunlight at all, such as the genital area or genitals.

Usually, this disease is characterized by changes in the skin that look like sores but don't heal. There are several characteristics of skin conditions that are symptoms of this skin cancer, namely:

• The skin turns reddish but the center looks sunken inward.
• Scaly patches appear around or on the ears.
• Wounds that don't heal or even if they heal will reappear. It usually bleeds, dries up, or peels off. Often mistaken for acne.
• The skin that appears has a dry texture in the area of ​​the skin that is irritated, usually reddish in color.
• The presence of skin that grows the same color as the skin color is round.
• Marks on the skin that look like scars, usually yellow or white in color. Usually, the color is slightly shiny and the skin around it feels stiff.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience one or more of the symptoms above, it never hurts to see a doctor immediately. Especially if you are not sure what happened to the skin condition. The doctor will help you determine whether this condition is classified as skin cancer.

Cause

What causes basal cell carcinoma?

The cause of this skin cancer is the mutation of DNA in the basal skin cells. Usually, this condition occurs because the skin is too often exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, thus damaging the DNA inside the skin cells.

Initially, the body will try to repair the DNA damage. However, gradually the body is no longer able to make repairs so that DNA mutations occur.

Well, the job of these basal cells is to produce new skin cells when the old skin cells have died. The process of forming new skin cells is controlled by the DNA found in basal skin cells.

DNA will give instructions to the cells to produce new skin cells and push the dead skin cells out until they slough off and release themselves from the body.

Unfortunately, when a DNA mutation occurs, there is also an error in the instructions given to the cell. Therefore, instead of allowing dead skin cells to escape, DNA instructs the dead skin cells to continue growing and multiplying.

This abnormal buildup of cells eventually forms cancer of the skin.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of basal cell carcinoma?

As previously mentioned, the cause of this disease is exposure to ultraviolet radiation. There are several conditions that can increase your risk of exposure to this radiation, including:

1. Sun exposure

Whether you realize it or not, when you are too often exposed to sunlight, you are actually also being exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The risk increases if you spend time outdoors frequently and don't use protection for your skin.

2. The color of the skin, hair and eyes

Apparently, people with certain skin, hair, and eye colors have a tendency to be more easily exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

For example, if you have light and sensitive skin color, blonde or red hair, and have blue or green eyes, the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma is higher than that of a person without these physical characteristics.

3. Age

This type of skin cancer actually takes years to form, so it's no wonder that most people with basal cell carcinoma are elderly people. However, this disease can also be experienced by young people, especially at the age of 20-30 years.

4. Medical history

Both personal and family medical history can affect your potential for developing this disease. For example, if you have had this condition before, it is very likely that you will experience it again at a later date.

Meanwhile, if you have a family medical history related to skin cancer, the risk of experiencing one type of the disease also increases.

5. Weak immune system

If your immune system is weak, your risk of developing basal cell carcinoma increases. Usually, your immune system becomes weak after you receive an organ transplant. The reason is, the drugs used to prevent you from rejecting this new organ actually suppress the immune system.

6. Arsenic exposure

Basically, everyone will be exposed to arsenic, because this poisonous substance is so easy to find and difficult to avoid. However, there are groups of people who have a higher risk of arsenic exposure.

Typically, people who drink water that has been contaminated with arsenic or have jobs closely related to the substance have a higher risk than other people.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is basal cell carcinoma diagnosed?

In fact, if you are more sensitive to skin conditions, you will certainly notice changes that are taking place. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you experience skin changes that are considered abnormal.

In the process of examining the health condition of your skin, the doctor will usually check the patient's medical history and ask questions about your daily life.

For example, your doctor may ask the following questions:

• How often are you exposed to the sun?
• Are you often exposed to various things that have the potential to increase your risk of skin cancer?
• How was your skin condition and that of your previous family?
• When did you first notice changes to your skin?
• Have the marks or sores on your skin changed shape or color?

After that, the doctor may perform further skin examinations as well as check for enlarged lymph nodes.

If the doctor feels that a certain area of ​​the skin needs to be examined more deeply, the doctor may perform a biopsy, which is a procedure for taking a sample of the skin for further examination.

What are the treatments for basal cell carcinoma?

There are many treatment options for skin cancer on this one, including:

1. Surgical excision

Excision surgery is a procedure that is performed by a doctor by cutting and removing the cancerous area of ​​the skin and the surrounding skin.

The surrounding skin will be examined under a microscope to make sure that there are no cancer cells in it. Usually, this medical procedure is recommended for basal cell carcinoma that forms in areas such as the chest, back, hands, and feet.

2. Operation Mohs

In this operation, the doctor will remove one by one the layers of skin that are affected by cancer. The goal is to ensure that no abnormal cells remain on the skin.

That way, the doctor will be sure that the cancer cells in the patient's skin have been completely removed. This helps prevent the doctor from removing excessively healthy skin for examination.

Mohs surgery is recommended to treat basal cell carcinoma that has the potential to recur even after treatment.

3. Curettage and electrodesication

This medical procedure involves a curette technique to remove the cancerous layer of skin, then burns the base or base of the cancer cells using an electric needle.

4. Freezing

Treatment for skin cancer is done by freezing cancer cells using liquid nitrogen. This freezing technique is usually done after the skin that is affected by cancer is removed by means of a curette. Usually, this method is done to treat basal cell carcinoma that is still small.

5. Radiation therapy

This therapy is usually performed using high-energy rays such as X rays and protons to kill cancer cells. This therapy is usually done to complement surgical procedures when there is a risk that the cancer will recur.

However, this therapy can also be used to treat basal cell carcinoma in patients who cannot undergo surgery.

6. Photodynamic therapy

This one therapy is a combination of the use of drugs that increase the patient's sensitivity to light and the use of light or rays to kill cancer cells.

When this procedure is performed, the doctor will administer liquid medicine to the patient to increase the patient's sensitivity to light.

This drug will be applied to the skin affected by cancer, so that when the light or light is directed at the area of ​​the skin, the cancer cells will be destroyed.

Usually, this procedure will be performed if the patient is unable to undergo surgery for one reason or another.

Prevention

How to prevent basal cell carcinoma?

There are several ways you can do if you want to prevent this skin cancer, including:

• As much as possible avoid sun exposure during the day, especially at 10 am to 3 pm.
• Discipline to use sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, at least one that is equipped with SPF 30.
• Wear closed clothing, such as long sleeves and trousers. If necessary, use sunglasses and a hat to protect the face and head area.
• Routinely check the skin independently and if you find any abnormalities in the skin, immediately consult a doctor.