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AB1. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. While it rarely spreads inside the body, it will spread through the skin, cartilage and bone if left untreated.
They are directly related to your total sun exposure, history of sun burns and prior radiation exposure. There are some genetic syndromes with high rates of BCC.
2. Treatment depends on the pathology, location and size. If the pathology reads “superficial BCC” ask your doctor about non surgical options like imiquimod, scrape and burn or cryotherapy.
3. BCC on the head and neck, shins, hands, feet or genitals benefit from a tissue sparing surgery called Mohs surgery. This allows for margins to be cleared same day and results in smallest scar possible.
4. Scars are always longer than you’re expecting after surgery but tend to heal very well over time. Radiation usually has the opposite timeline, initially looking good and looking worse and worse as years pass. Radiated skin also has poor healing and increased risk of skin cancers, so talk to your doctor about these risks if they are recommending primary radiation for your BCC.
5. If you had one BCC you have a 30% chance of developing another skin cancer at some point in your life.
Follow if you want to protect your self from skin cancer
#skincancer #bcc #dermatologist
@abby.waldmanmd
