Quianna Jeffries

INSIGHT The typical people that have BCC are light or freckled skin males that tend to be outdoors often without being covered or wearing sunscreen. The survival rate is 100 percent for Basal Cell Carcinoma cases where the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. There are more than 4 million new cases of BCC diagnosed annually. INTRO Our research reviewed multiple credible and reliable sources in order to compile this brief. We were able to find that there are more than 4 million new cases of BCC annually. The typical people that have BCC are light or freckled skin males that tend to be outdoors often without being covered or wearing sunscreen. They could also use tanning bed frequently. The deep dive into diagnosis, treatment and outcomes is below. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in the United States. It’s said to be more than 4 million new cases diagnosed annually. [2] BCC is so common that it accounts for more than one out of every three new skin cancer cases. [2] BCC grows slowly but it rarely spreads to other body parts. If its left untreated it can grow deep and wide, destroy tissue, bone and the skin. [1] Since BCC shows up on the skin in many ways its best to watch out for the following symptoms: [1] Dome-shaped skin growth with visible blood vessels Shiny pink or red, slightly scaly patch, especially on the trunk Waxy feeling, hard, pale-white to yellow or skin-colored growth that looks like a scar When it comes to the actual sores themselves, they usually don’t heal easily, ooze or crusts over, has a sunken center, and they can bleed easily as well. [1] Even with the symptoms they rarely become painful or itchy. WHO USUALY GETS BCC When it comes to BCC, the cause is well known. Ultraviolet rays are directly to blame for this form of cancer. BCC is usually associated with skin that is over exposed to natural and/or artificial sunlight. [1] It has been shown that men get BCC more often than women. [2] It is also more commonly found on the face, but it can develop on any skin that has been exposed to the sun, for example, legs, arms, neck, etc. [1] This form of skin cancer is also more associated older people. [2] There are also other factors that would make certain people have a higher risk of getting Basal Cell Carcinoma. The risk factors are below: Light or freckled skin. Blue, green, or gray eyes. Blond or red hair. An Inability to tan. Having spent lots of time outdoors without sunscreen. Frequent tanning bed usage. DIAGNOSIS Basal Cell Carcinoma can only be diagnosed with a biopsy. There are two types of biopsies the shave biopsy, which is usually the only one required. [4] And there is the punch biopsy, this type if used when the legion is pigmented which makes it hard to diagnose. [4] Either procedure can be performed by a dermatologist. They will remove the growth that is suspected to be BCC, and have it sent to a lab for further testing. If the lab results come back stating that a person has BCC their dermatologist will determine the best course of action for treatment. [1] The dermatologist will ask questions like,” How much time do you spend outdoors?” and “Have you ever used a tanning bed?” to help determine of skin growth is Basal Cell Carcinoma. [3] TREATMENTS There are many different types of treatment that work for Basal Cell Carcinoma. These treatments range from pills to laser surgery. But the most common and most effective treatment is Mohs Surgery, so we gave some insight into that procedure. Mohs Surgery is one type of treatment that cost between $1000 - $2000. [5] It is a surgical procedure that can usually be performed during an office visit. It consists of numbing the area, cutting away the tumor and some of the healthy-looking skin surrounding the tumor. The removed skin is then examined through a microscope to see whether the normal looking skin is cancer free, if not then there will need to be more skin removed. This is a specialized surgery that’s used to remove more difficult types of skin cancer. This treatment has the highest cure rate. Excision is another treatment that costs around a $3000 [5] but this one is nearly identical to Mohs surgery except with this treatment type the cutting is performed by your dermatologist, for Mohs surgery the procedure is performed by a surgeon. [1] They also have a treatment called Curettage and Electrodessication which costs around $300 - $999. [5] With this type, the dermatologist scrapes the tumor away then electricity is used to destroy any cancer cells that remain. They also use cryosurgery (which costs anywhere from $100 - $999, [5] radiation, medicated creams (costs between $300 - $600) [5], and pills as other forms of treatment. There is also a treatment called Photodynamic therapy costs anywhere between $200 - $999 [5] and the treatment consists of applying a chemical to the skin and exposing the cancer cells to a special light. Laser surgery is also a popular form of treatment. OUTCOMES Nearly every case of BCC is curable, especially if its detected and treated early. [1] The survival rate is 100 percent for cases where the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. [4] But it is still suggested to get regular skin screenings as BCC could recur within the first year following treatment. [4] It is also possible for it to develop in new areas. But overall the recurrence rate is low and is around a rate of five percent. [4]