Is Basal cell skin cancer life threatening?

Although the nonmelanoma skin cancer basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is rarely life-threatening, it can be troublesome, especially because 80 percent of BCCs develop on highly visible areas of the head and neck.

What are the risks of basal cell carcinoma?

Several risk factors make a person more likely to get basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer.

• Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.
• Having light-colored skin.
• Being older.
• Being male.
• Exposure to certain chemicals.
• Radiation exposure.
• Previous skin cancer.
• Long-term or severe skin inflammation or injury.

Is Basal Cell Carcinoma considered cancer?

Basal cell carcinoma (also called basal cell skin cancer) is most common type of skin cancer. About 8 out of 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas (also called basal cell cancers). These cancers start in the basal cell layer, which is the lower part of the epidermis.

Do basal cell carcinomas have to be removed?

Surgery. Basal cell carcinoma is most often treated with surgery to remove all of the cancer and some of the healthy tissue around it.

What happens if you leave a basal cell carcinoma alone?

This type of skin cancer needs to be treated and has a high cure rate. If left untreated, basal cell carcinomas can become quite large, cause disfigurement, and in rare cases, spread to other parts of the body and cause death. Your skin covers your body and protects it from the environment.

How serious is basal cell?

Basal cell carcinoma ( BCC ) is the most common type of skin cancer and the least dangerous. It is locally invasive, slowly eating away at the surrounding tissue, and may eventually become an ulcerated, bleeding sore.

What are the different types of basal cell carcinoma?

There are several sub-types of basal cell carcinoma including nodular basal cell carcinoma, infiltrating basal cell carcinoma and superficial basal cell carcinoma. All types of basal cell carcinoma usually occur on sun-damaged skin but can occur anywhere on the body (except the palms and soles).

What is the prognosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?

Basal cell carcinoma prognosis BCCs grow slowly and the prognosis is typically excellent. If left untreated, the basal cell carcinoma will continue to grow deeper and wider into the skin and may involve the nerves, muscle, or bone underneath the skin. When basal cell carcinomas have grown significantly, they will cause disfigurement.

What can untreated basal cell carcinoma skin cancer do?

It’s very rare for a basal cell cancer to spread to other parts of the body. But if it’s left untreated, basal cell cancer can grow into nearby areas and invade the bone or other tissues beneath the skin. If not removed completely, basal cell carcinoma can come back (recur) in the same place on the skin.