In the United States, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) accounts for 90 percent of all skin cancers in the southern states and 47 percent in the northern states. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer in Australia and New Zealand, accounting for 70 to 80% of diagnosed skin cancers. Basal cell carcinoma occurs mainly on the head and neck. It occurs less frequently in Asians and rarely among darker-skinned races. As with all skin cancers, risk is considered to be related to sun exposure. The good news about basal cell carcinoma is that it is slow growing and rarely metastasizes throughout the body. However, it is locally destructive and can invade neighboring bone and nerve tissue.
Description – CBC is a malignant epithelial cell tumor that begins as a papule (a small, circumscribed, solid elevation of the skin) and enlarges peripherally, becoming a crater that erodes, crusts, and bleeds. BCC originates in the basal layer of the epidermis, the lowest layer of the skin.
Signs and Symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma – There are five typical characteristics of basal cell carcinoma that are quite different from each other. Often two or more features are present in a tumor. BCC sometimes resembles non-cancerous skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema, and requires diagnosis by a trained person. The five warning signs of basal cell carcinoma are:
- An open sore that bleeds, oozes, or crusts over and remains open for three or more weeks. A persistent sore that does not heal is a very common early manifestation.
- A reddish spot or irritated area, frequently occurring on the chest, shoulders, arms, or legs. Sometimes the patch crusts over. It can also itch or hurt. At other times, it persists without noticeable discomfort.
- A smooth growth with a raised, rolled edge and a cleft in the center. As the growth slowly enlarges, small blood vessels can develop on the surface (telangiectasias).
- A shiny lump (nodule) that is pearly or translucent and is often pink, red, or white. The nodule can also be tan, black, or brown in color, especially in dark-haired people, and can be mistaken for a mole or melanoma.
- A scar-like area (white, yellow, or waxy in appearance) that often has poorly defined edges. The skin itself appears shiny or tight. Although it is a less frequent sign, it may indicate the presence of a more aggressive tumor.
Basal cell carcinoma diagnosis – Diagnosis is almost always made by biopsy. Tissue is excised from the site and examined under a microscope.
Basal cell carcinoma medical treatment – The allopathic treatment depends on the size and type of tumor. There are several types of surgical or non-surgical treatments chosen.
Non-surgical treatment of BCC – Non-surgical allopathic treatments have low success rates.
- Topical application of 5-fluorouracil for 2 to 12 weeks is only beneficial for superficial BCC. Fluorouracil is used to prevent excess cell proliferation as found in skin cancer and psoriasis. It is the formation of RNA which in turn prevents the formation of DNA.
- Imiquinoid cream: Currently, the use of imiquinoid cream is considered experimental. It is an immune response modifier that stimulates the immune system to release cytokines that kill cancer cells. Treatment causes significant skin irritation. Not all types of BCC are affected.
- Ionizing radiation: Superficial X-rays. It causes radiation damage, so it is used more in older patients. Impaired immune function and general malaise also often occur. It is used for facial CBC and seems less effective for CBC than occurs elsewhere.
Surgical removal of BCC – Surgery is the most studied and most widely used treatment for the removal of a BCC in allopathic medicine. The effectiveness of the surgery depends largely on the skill of the surgeon. Various surgical methods:
- Electrodesiccation and curettage: The CCB is burned and removed with a scalpel. The main disadvantage of this method is that the tumor often tracks the hair follicles. (9)
- Cryosurgery: liquid nitrogen to freeze burn the BCC.
- Excision surgery: The BCC is cut out of the skin with a scalpel. To increase the likelihood of complete removal of the tumor, a part of the normal-appearing skin that surrounds the BCC is removed.
- Microscopic Surgery or MOHS: The BCC is cut from the skin, along with some of the healthy surrounding tissue. This is examined under a microscope to check for any remaining cancer cells. Tissue is then removed in increments of thin layers of skin, until no more cancer cells are found. Mohs is the most effective allopathic medical treatment (99% cure rate for primary BCC, 90-95% for recurrent BCC).
- Laser surgery. Lasers are also used as secondary therapy when topical medications or other techniques are unsuccessful.
BCC recurrence – Once a basal cell carcinoma has been removed, another growth may develop in the same place or nearby area. It has been found that 36% of people who develop basal cell carcinoma will develop a secondary primary BCC in the next 5 years. Radiation therapy can result in more aggressive and invasive cells in a recurrent BCC.
Effective alternative treatments – Allopathic medicine is often successful in the complete elimination of BCC, but obviously it also fails often, given the high number of recurrences that many people suffer with repeated visits to the doctor and then to the specialist. These treatments do not always work as well as expected or expected.
But there are natural treatments worth trying that have been shown to be safe and effective. You can read the full text of this article in the e-book titled “How to Treat Skin Cancer Naturally.” The book includes descriptions of different types of basal cell carcinoma, as well as pictures and additional text. Covers other types of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma) with helpful information on various methods and herbs, such as blood-based applications. Real cases of people who have used these methods successfully are included.