Download 10 Quick Facts About Basal Cell Carcinoma

10 Quick Facts About Basal Cell Carcinoma
Check out these 10 interesting facts about Basal Cell Carcinoma from the Skin Cancer Foundation. Basal
Cell Carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed form of skin cancer. Education is key in the fight against
skin cancer.
1.
Basal Cell Carcinomas are abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin’s
basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin).
2. Often look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars but not always.
3. Typically caused by a combination of cumulative, intense or occasional sun exposure.
4. BCC almost never spreads beyond the original tumor site.
5. It can cause disfigurement if not treated promptly.
6. In 2010, an estimated 2.8 million cases of BCC were diagnosed in the U.S., and figures continue
to climb.
7. BCC is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers.
8. More than one out of every three new cancers is a skin cancer, and the vast majority are BCCs.
9. Best way to prevent BCC is to take proper precautions when you will be exposed to the sun,
such as wearing a 30 SPF sunscreen, and covering up. Avoid sun burn and UV tanning beds. Also,
examine your skin head-to-toe every month and see your doctor every year for a professional
skin exam.
10. The most effective form of treatment is Mohs Micrographic Surgery where all cancerous tissue
is removed.
Source:
Skin Cancer Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2015, from http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancerfacts#general
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