Can basal cell carcinoma come and go?

If not removed completely, basal cell carcinoma can come back (recur) in the same place on the skin. People who have had basal cell skin cancers are also more likely to get new ones in other places.

Can basal cell carcinoma appear and disappear?

Basal cell carcinomas may appear to heal on their own but inevitably will recur.

Does skin cancer disappear and reappear?

While some skin cancer lesions appear suddenly, others grow slowly over time. For example, the crusty, pre-cancerous spots associated with actinic keratoses can take years to develop. Other forms of skin cancer, like melanoma, can appear very suddenly, while at other times, the lesions can vanish and reappear.

Can you have basal cell carcinoma for years?

While it is the least risky type of skin cancer, it can spread so should be treated early. Basal cell carcinoma usually grows very slowly and often doesn't show up for many years after intense or long-term exposure to the sun. You can get it at a younger age if you're exposed to a lot of sun or use tanning beds.

What does basal cell carcinoma look like when it starts?

A shiny, skin-colored bump that's translucent, meaning you can see a bit through the surface. The bump can look pearly white or pink on white skin. On brown and Black skin, the bump often looks brown or glossy black. Tiny blood vessels might be visible, though they may be difficult to see on brown and Black skin.

Basal Cell Carcinoma: Not the Most Deadly, but is Certainly the Most Destructive Form of Skin Cancer

What can be mistaken for a basal cell carcinoma?

Trichoepithelioma is a benign tumor which can be easily confused with basal cell carcinoma. Since both tumors are histologically similar, it is important to distinguish them correctly as the courses for treatment are very different.

What is commonly mistaken for basal cell carcinoma?

This BCC could easily be mistaken for an age spot, which is why it's so important to have a dermatologist examine your skin before you treat an age spot. Warning sign: A scar-like mark on your skin that may be white, yellow, or skin-colored and waxy.

What is the life expectancy of someone with basal cell carcinoma?

Survival for most non-melanoma skin cancers is excellent. The 5-year relative survival for BCC is 100%. This means that, on average, all of the people diagnosed with BCC are just as likely to live at least 5 years after their diagnosis as people in the general population.

Is basal cell carcinoma flat or raised?

Basal cell carcinomas

These cancers can appear as: Flat, firm, pale or yellow areas, similar to a scar. Raised reddish patches that might be itchy. Small, pink or red, translucent, shiny, pearly bumps, which might have blue, brown, or black areas.

What happens if you ignore basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body, but left untreated it can grow in width and depth, destroying skin, tissue and bone in the process.

Is there a skin cancer that comes and goes?

Actinic keratosis (solar keratosis)

People who have them usually develop more than one. AKs tend to grow slowly and usually do not cause any symptoms (although some might be itchy or sore). They sometimes go away on their own, but they may come back.

How long can you wait to have basal cell carcinoma removed?

If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment should then take place within two months. Basal cell carcinomas are not normally referred or treated within the two week / two month pathway as they are less likely to cause significant health problems.

Why do I keep getting basal cell carcinomas?

Most basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are caused by repeated and unprotected skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight, as well as from man-made sources such as tanning beds.

Where do basal cell cancers usually begin?

BCC most often occurs when DNA damage from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or indoor tanning triggers changes in basal cells in the outermost layer of skin (epidermis), resulting in uncontrolled growth.

How fast does basal cell carcinoma spread?

The tumors enlarge very slowly, sometimes so slowly that they go unnoticed as new growths. However, the growth rate varies greatly from tumor to tumor, with some growing as much as ½ inch (about 1 centimeter) in a year. Basal cell carcinomas rarely spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Does basal cell carcinoma always need to be removed?

Basal cell skin cancer is almost always cured when it's found early and treated. If the cancer is low-risk, you may have a choice between surgery and a medicated cream. Your doctor can tell you if your cancer is low-risk.

What does pre basal cell carcinoma look like?

Discoloration, often appearing brown, pink, gray, red, yellow, or white. Flat or slightly raised. Hard or wart-like surface. Roughness or scaly skin.

Can basal cell carcinoma be benign?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is most often a benign form of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. However, it's the most frequently occurring form of all skin cancers, with more than 3 million people developing BCC in the U.S. every year.

Do you need chemo for basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma very rarely reaches an advanced stage, so systemic chemotherapy is not typically used to treat these cancers. Advanced basal cell cancers are more likely to be treated with targeted therapy.

What age group gets basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma most often appears in older adults

While people 20 years and younger can certainly get basal cell cancer, it's far more likely in adults who are over 50. To break it down further, people who are aged 50 to 80 are affected most often, and the average age at diagnosis is 67 years old.

Is basal cell carcinoma very serious?

Basal cell carcinoma spreads very slowly and very rarely will metastasize, Dr. Christensen says. But if it's not treated, basal cell carcinoma can continue to grow deeper under the skin and cause significant destruction to surrounding tissues. It can even become fatal.

Can basal cell carcinoma turn into melanoma?

Basal cell carcinoma does not progress into melanoma. Each is a separate and distinct type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and one of two major nonmelanoma skin cancer types (the other is squamous cell carcinoma).

What looks like basal cell carcinoma but isn t?

Sebaceous hyperplasia

When this gland becomes enlarged they can form into a small yellow or flesh coloured papules which can resemble basal cell carcinomas. For the most part these growths are not dangerous and are only removed for cosmetic purposes.

How does basal cell carcinoma make you feel?

However, basal cell carcinomas typically don't hurt, and patients rarely feel anything out of the ordinary. Instead, the warning signs are primarily visual.

How do I know if I have basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma most commonly appears as a pearly white, dome-shaped papule with prominent telangiectatic surface vessels. Squamous cell carcinoma most commonly appears as a firm, smooth, or hyperkeratotic papule or plaque, often with central ulceration.