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Do You Need To Worry About Basal Cell Melanoma?Basal cell melanoma is more accurately referred to as basal cell carcinoma. This basal skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world. It affects about a million people every year in the United States. Most people who develop it have been exposed to the sun extensively, causing these cancers to appear in the basal cells of the skin.
The epidermis is the top layer of the skin . The basal cells line the lowest layer of the epidermis. They can be affected by routine sun exposure, which is why most cases of basal skin cancer occur:
But some people get tumors in other places that have not been exposed to the sun.
In very rare cases, basal cell melanoma can be caused by:
It's important to stress that those last few causes are uncommon. The majority of cases are caused by sun damage. You're most likely to get this kind of cancer if someone else in your family has it or had another kind of skin cancer.
People with a history of sun exposure are most likely to get this type of cancer. The people with the highest risk are those with light colored skin and hair. We are more likely to develop this cancer as we age, but younger people are getting it, too.
Many people in their twenties and thirties are now being treated for basal skin cancer. We used to expect it mostly in people over sixty but that is changing.
Men used to outnumber women in terms of cases of this cancer but more women are now getting it. This is probably because of the popularity of tanning and outdoor sports. You are at risk if you work in the sun or spend your leisure time outside.
Basal cell cancer might look like:
If you see any of these signs, you need to talk to your doctor right away.
It's easy to treat this kind of cancer early on. The longer you ignore it, the bigger the tumor can get. This means that treatment will become more difficult, take longer, and be more extensive.
The good news is that this kind of cancer rarely spreads to other organs. Unfortunately, it can do a lot of damage to other tissue. If you don't have your tumor treated, it could leave a large scar.
You need to see your doctor right away if you think that you have a basal skin cancer. It can be removed surgically and is unlikely to require any other treatment. Removal of small cancers usually doesn't leave any marks. Larger cancers might require special procedures or reconstructive surgery afterwards, however.
You’re at risk for developing more carcinomas if you've had one case of basal cell cancer. These may be in the same area of your body or in other places. That means that people who've suffered from this problem in the past have to watch carefully. Visit a dermatologist on a regular basis to make sure that your skin can be carefully examined. This is especially important for people who've had skin cancer on their nose or scalp. These places are the most likely to have a recurrence.
There is a chance that your doctor will recommend a different kind of treatment if your cancer comes back. Mohs micrographic surgery is one option that is often very effective at preventing recurrence and reduces scarring.
There are a few things you can do to keep yourself from getting basal cell cancer or to reduce the chance that it will come back:
It's important to catch skin cancer early to avoid tumor growth and scarring. Even though basal cell carcinoma won't kill you, it can still lead to problems. Talk to your doctor right away if you suspect anything is wrong. Your health is worth the extra effort.
"This website is for all skin cancer patients, their families and friends. I want people to know that they can overcome this disease by learning what to do, where to go for great medical help, how to deal with insurance and all the other problems facing them.
I have worked with some great people to make this web site easy to understand and devoted to helping you. Please let me know if anything doesn't help you or if we can do something more that would be useful to you.
The most important factor in a person getting healthy is their personal determination and their will to be better. You have to summon that determination and then take the steps described here - we are here to help and support you."
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