Cancer Skin Cancer Treatment How Serious Is Basal Cell Skin Cancer? By Helen Massy facebook linkedin Helen Massy, BSc, is a freelance medical and health writer with over a decade of experience working in the UK National Health Service as a physiotherapist and clinical specialist for respiratory disease. Learn about our editorial process Helen Massy Published on January 20, 2021 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What It Is Staging Serious Complications Can It Be Cured? Prevention Basal cell skin cancer (or carcinoma) is usually very curable but can cause disfigurement and complications if not treated. In the majority of cases, basal cell carcinoma is very treatable. It is unusual for basal cell carcinoma to cause death. Approximately 2,000 people in the U.S. die each year from basal and squamous skin cancers. In most cases, people who die from these types of skin cancer tend to be older, immunosuppressed, or have not identified they have skin cancer until a very late stage. AndreyPopov / iStock / Getty Images What Is Basal Cell Carcinoma? Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, with approximately 80% of skin cancers developing from basal cells. The top layer of your skin (the epidermis) has three types of cells. The cells in the bottom layer of the epidermis are called basal cells. Basal cells consistently divide to form new cells. These replace squamous cells, pushing old cells towards the skin's surface, where they die and slough off. Cancers that start in this bottom/basal layer of skin cells are called basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is usually triggered by damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This is most commonly from either exposure to the sun or tanning beds. UV radiation can damage basal cells causing them to change and grow uncontrollably. Basal skin carcinoma can look very different from person to person. It may present as an open sore, scaly patch, shiny bump, a red irritated patch, pink growth, waxy scar-like growth, or a growth that dips in the center. They can sometimes ooze, crust, or bleedAs it can vary in how it looks, it is essential to get any new growths, lesions, lumps, bumps, or changes to your skin checked by your doctor. Types of Basal Cell Carcinoma There are several types of basal cell carcinoma, including: Nodular basal cell carcinoma: Approximately 60-80% of all basal cell carcinomas that present on the face and head are nodular. It is the most common of the subtypes. It is also known as nodulocystic carcinoma and presents as a shiny, smooth nodule. It may have a dip in the center, with rolled edges, and blood vessels are often seen to cross its surface.Superficial spreading basal cell carcinoma: Most commonly seen on the upper body, back, and shoulders, and is more common in younger adults. It presents as shallow, scaly, irregular plaques that are pink or a similar color to the skin itself. Almost all superficial spreading basal cell carcinomas are secondary to sun damage.Sclerosing basal cell carcinoma (aka morphoeic basal cell or infiltrating basal cell skin cancer: This type can be challenging to diagnose. Most commonly seen on the face, it can look like a small, waxy, white scar that expands over time. It can be more dangerous or disfiguring as it is often not recognized as skin cancer until it has grown.Pigmented basal cell carcinoma: Most commonly occurs in people with a darker skin tone, particularly Asians. The pigmentation can be found inal the different basal cell carcinoma subtypes. The color can be dark blue, dark brown, or black. It is possible that you can get more than one type of basal cell carcinoma simultaneously. If you have one type, it also increases your risk of getting another. Basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body. What Does Basal Cell Carcinoma Look Like? Staging Basal Cell Carcinoma Staging is important in determining whether your type of basal cell cancer is serious. Your treatment plan will depend on staging. Saying that, in most cases, basal cell carcinoma does not require staging because it rarely spreads. Staging is only applicable if your cancer is very large or has spread. It determines how severe the cancer is and, therefore, how to treat it. The TNM system is used most often to stage cancer: Tumor: Takes into consideration tumor size and if it has infiltrated into other structures nearby, such as bone. Node: Analyzes if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.Metastases: Identifies if cancer has spread to other distant body parts. Staging The stages are numbered and graded as follows: Stage 0: Cancer has not spread to the dermis and is only within the original tumor. Cancer is found only in the original tumor in the skin. It is also known as Bowen's disease or carcinoma in situ. The cancer cells are situated where they developed and have not spread. Stage 1: The cancerous tumor is 2 centimeters (cm) wide or less with no more than two high-risk features. It may have spread to the dermis but not outside of the skin. Stage 2: The cancerous tumor larger than 2 cm wide. It may have spread to the dermis but not outside of the skin. Stage 2 means that there are also two or more high-risk features present. Stage 3: Cancer has spread below the skin but not to distant organs. It could have spread to bones or lymph nodes in the local area. Stage 4: Cancer has spread to distant organs, invaded the spine, or spread to a lymph node that's bigger than 3 cm. High Risk Features These features show the cancer is of higher risk:Greater than 2 millimeters (mm) thickGrowth in the lower dermisPerineural invasion has occurred (cancer has spread into the space around a nerve)Began on the lip or earIt is identified to be very abnormal when observed under a microscope. Grading Grade 1: Low grade. Most of the cells look like normal cells.Grade 2: The cells look a bit like normal cells.Grade 3: High grade. The cells look very abnormal. Serious Complications If left untreated, basal cell carcinoma can spread across the skin tissue, growing more extensive, and in some cases leading to disfigurement. Although rare, it can spread and metastasize to other parts of the body, such as the bones and lungs. Further complications of basal skin cancer include: Risk of recurrenceIncreased risk of developing other types of skin cancer Can Basal Cell Carcinoma Be Cured? In the vast majority of cases, basal cell skin cancer can be cured. The survival rates are excellent; however, the exact statistics remain unknown. Unlike other cancers, basal and squamous cell skin cancers are not tracked by cancer registries, so the statistics are not available. In some cases, basal skin cancer can recur. The risk of recurrence appears to be linked to the type of treatment used to treat the cancer. Research has indicated that the recurrence risk is: Just above 10% after surgical excisionSlightly less than 8% after electrodesiccation and curettageApproximately 7.5% after cryotherapyLess than 1% after Mohs micrographic surgery Treatment options vary depending on the subtype, staging, and location of the basal skin cancer. Treatment options may include: Medications Medications used include: Chemotherapy: Uses anti-cancer drugs either injected into a vein or given orally in the mouth.Targeted therapy: Uses drugs that specifically target parts of the cancer cells. Immunotherapy: Uses of medicines that encourage your own immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells more effectively Local treatments Local treatments include: Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and kill the cells.Laser surgery: Laser light is concentrated via a beam to vaporize cancer cells.Photodynamic therapy: A medication is applied to the skin. Then the skin is exposed to a special light-emitting device for several minutes to a few hours.Chemical peeling: A chemical is applied to the skin killing the tumor cells over several days. Topical chemotherapy: Anti-cancer chemotherapy medication is applied directly to the skin. Immune response modifiers: They are designed to boost the body's immune response against cancer. This can cause it to shrink and disappear. Surgical Removal Surgical methods include: Curettage and electrodesiccation: The basal cell carcinoma is scraped from the skin using a technique called curetting. Electrodesiccation then uses heat to destroy any remaining cancer cells.Mohs micrographic surgery: A very thin layer of the skin, which includes the tumor, is removed. This sample is then checked under a microscope. If cancer cells remain, another layer is removed and examined. This procedure is repeated until no more cancer cells are seen under the microscope. Wide excision: The basal cell skin cancer is removed surgically along with an area of normal-looking skin around it. Radiation Therapy Radiation therapy for skin cancer uses high-energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells. Prevention You can reduce your risk of developing basal cell carcinoma by undertaking preventative measures: Avoid the sun during the middle of the day when it is at it's strongestWhen out in the sun, look for shade to limit your UV exposureWear a broad-spectrum sunscreen all year round—remember it doesn't have to be sunny for UV rays to damage your skinTake extra precautions near water, snow, and sand. UV rays can reflect off these, increasing the chance of sunburnWear protective clothing.Wear protective sunglasses.Avoid tanning beds.Ensure children are protected from the sun.Check your skin regularly and report changes to your doctor. Get to Know Your Skin and Check It Regularly Look out for changes such as:A mole that changes shape, color, size, bleeds, or develops an irregular borderA new spot on the skin that changes in size, shape, or colorSores that don't healNew bumps, lumps, or spots that don't go awayShiny, waxy, or scar type lesionsNew dark patches of skin that have appearedRough, red, scaly, skin patchesIf you notice any changes to your skin, seek advice from a medical professional. Basal cell carcinoma is very treatable when caught early. A Word From Verywell Basal cell carcinoma can appear differently from one person to another. This is why it is important to check your skin regularly and report any changes to your doctor. Skin cancers can be treated if found early, but they can spread, cause disfigurement, or metastasize if left untreated. Basal cell skin cancer has excellent survival rates. With awareness of your skin to catch changes early, the prognostic outlook after being diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma is very good. The best way to lower your risk of developing basal cell skin cancer is through prevention. Protect yourself from harmful UV rays with sunscreen, sunglasses, and clothing as much as possible. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Cancer Society. Skin cancer. American Cancer Society. Basal & squamous cell skin cancer statistics. Updated January 2021. Cancer.Net from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Skin cancer (non-melanoma) - introduction. Updated July 2019. American Cancer Society. Where do skin cancers start? Updated July 2019. The Skin Cancer Foundation. Basal cell carcinoma - overview. Updated January 2021. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Skin cancer types: Basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms. Provincial Health Services Authority. Bccancer.bc.ca. Basal cell carcinoma. Dourmishev L, Rusinova D, Botev I. Clinical variants, stages, and management of basal cell carcinoma. 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