Basal Cell Carcinoma

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Basal cell carcinoma (kahr-si-NOH-mah) or "BCC" is a slow growing type of skin cancer. Skin cancer occurs when cancer cells are found in the outer layers of the skin. Common warning signs include a sore that does not heal or a new raised bump on the skin, called a tumor. Tumors are often cancer cells that have clumped together to form a bump or a lump. BCC can usually be cured when treated. Most of the time you can be treated in your caregiver's office. You may also need to go to the hospital for tests or treatment.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Some treatments can cause unpleasant side effects. You could get an infection or bleed too much during a biopsy of the tumor. This does not happen often. Your chances of keeping the cancer from spreading are better if you are treated. The risks from this type of skin cancer are few. If the cancer is not treated, it can spread to other parts of your body. Once cancer spreads, it can cause other health problems. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your care or medicine.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Blood tests:

You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.

Pulse oximeter:

A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your finger, ear, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Never turn the pulse oximeter or alarm off. An alarm will sound if your oxygen level is low or cannot be read.

Treatment options:

Your treatment may change if the cancer is not being controlled. This is often decided after you have tests. You may have one or more of the following treatments, alone or together.

• Biopsy: A biopsy is surgery to remove all or part of the tumor (growth) from your skin. The tumor will be sent to the lab for tests.
  
  
• Cryosurgery: During cryosurgery, a chemical called liquid nitrogen is put on the tumor. This freezes the skin and kills the cancer cells. After the skin thaws, the dead skin falls off. You may need to have the skin frozen more than once to remove all of the cancer. Your skin may hurt and swell after the cryosurgery. A white scar may be seen once the treated skin heals.
  
  
• Curettage and electrodesiccation: A curettage and electrodesiccation is a kind of surgery used to treat the skin cancer. You may need it more than once.
  
  
  • The skin in the area of the cancer is numbed with medicine. This is called a "local." Once the skin is numb, the tumor (bump) is scraped off with a sharp, spoon-shaped tool. This is called curettage.
    
    
  • Electricity is then used to stop bleeding and to kill any cancer cells left behind. The electricity is used to heat the needle and does not send electricity into your body. This is called electrodesiccation. A scar may be seen once the treated skin heals.
  
  
• Laser therapy: A narrow beam of light is used to take off or kill the cancer cells. It can be used to treat tumors in the outer layers of skin. You may be given medicine to numb the skin before therapy. Usually, there is very little scarring of the skin with laser therapy. You may have pain in the treated skin until it heals.
  
  
• Mohs surgery: This surgery removes only skin with cancer cells and as little healthy tissue as possible. Thin layers of the tumor are scraped off one at a time. Each layer of skin is checked for cancer cells using a microscope. This is done until the tumor is gone. It is used for big or deep tumors and tumors in places that are hard to treat.
  
  
• Radiation: This is a treatment using x-rays or gamma rays to treat cancer. Radiation kills cancer and keeps the cancer from spreading. It also keeps cancer cells from dividing into new cells, which is one way cancer spreads. Radiation may be used to treat tumors in hard-to-treat areas. Skin cancers on the eyelid, tips of the nose, or on the ear may be treated with radiation. This kind of therapy may cause skin rashes or make the skin dry or red. The feel of your skin or its color may change years after being treated with radiation.
  
  
• Skin grafting: When a large or deep tumor is removed from the skin, a large wound and scar may form. To make the skin look better, a skin graft may be placed on the area where the cancer was removed. A skin graft is a thin piece of healthy skin that is removed from one part of the body. A skin graft can also help close the wound and decrease the amount of scarring.
  
  
• Topical chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is often called "chemo". Topical means it is put on the skin as a lotion or cream. Topical chemo may be used to treat cancer that is in the outer layers of the skin. Topical chemo is put on the tumor to kill the cancer cells. Your skin may hurt and look very red while being treated. The treated skin does not usually scar.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Basal Cell Carcinoma (Inpatient Care)