Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of non-melanoma skin cancer that forms in the basal cells of the skin as an abnormal growth of lesions. It may look like red-colored patches, bumps, scars, or moles. These malignant skin tumors grow slowly and though they do not spread to other parts of the body, they affect the local area of the skin. The basal cell carcinoma is not easy to detect from an external examination of the benign colored moles or outgrowth in skin. People exposed to ultraviolet radiation and blazing sunlight get the symptoms of this type of skin cancer. Let us examine the causes, symptoms, and treatment available for treating these tumors or skin cancer.
What Causes Basal Cell Carcinoma, the Most Common Form of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer?
Abnormal moles are often confused with the little dark bumps of a malignant skin tumor or basal cell carcinoma. However, it is difficult to say whether all abnormal moles cause basal cell carcinoma or if the moles may be a reason for this skin cancer. This list reveals the various causes why the symptoms of malignant skin tumors appear:
- Overexposure of the skin to UV radiation or the harsh sunlight is the most common cause for basal cell carcinoma or non-melanoma skin cancer showing symptoms like small tumors or minute red patches or bumps in the skin of the neck, chest, ear, head, etc.
- Previous skin injuries like burns, scars, or cuts can also cause malignant tumors in basal cells of the skin and thus form basal skin cell cancer.
- Fair-skinned people have more chances of developing this non-melanoma skin cancer.
Symptoms of Basal Cell Cancer
Overexposure to UV radiation may cause the malignant skin tumors and lead to skin cancer of the basal cells. Basal cell carcinoma causes a minute symptom of little bumps on the skin that may sometimes bleed. The skin cancer of basal skin cells is usually confused with benign skin tags or moles due to their similarity in appearance with moles. Some basal cell carcinoma symptoms appear as flat red patches or maybe a pearl-like or bumped mole-like rim that surrounds a crater. These malignant tumors can all form and spread from the initial minute bump or mole-like growth in the skin.
Treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma
When skin exposed to radiation shows early signs of tumors of basal cells or has symptoms of scab-like or red patches of basal cell carcinoma, immediate diagnosis is necessary. In case the moles are abnormal, or if you find any new change in color or size of skin bumps or moles, undergo a biopsy to ensure minor moles rule out this form of skin cancer. If skin cancer is confirmed, treatment must start immediately.
These treatments are available for malignant tumors in basal cells caused due to UV radiation or other factors.
- Surgery is usually used to treat skin cancer and basal cell carcinoma. Here, the carcinoma in basal skin cell is removed and the remaining skin stitched back.
- Radiotherapy treatment involves using X-rays or X-radiation. This is another way to treat these tumors or mole-like bulges of basal cells of the skin caused by skin cancer.
- Photodynamic therapy is another treatment for this malignant skin tumor or basal cell carcinoma.
- Pharmacological treatments use topical fluorouracil 5 percent cream, which is applied on the skin tumor or the basal cell skin cancer. Tazarotine is also used to treat basal skin cancer or malignant skin tumors.
These popular treatments are for tumors growing from mole-like outgrowths or minor red patches that are symptoms of basal cell carcinoma. However, one can prevent damage by taking care to avoid high radiation or using effective sunscreen lotions to counter high-intensity sun or UV radiation.
© Newsmax. All rights reserved.