Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer found in humans. It occurs mainly in fair-skinned people with a family history of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is a disease in which the cancer cells appear on the basal cells of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. It is estimated that approximately one million Americans are diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma each year.

Basal cell carcinoma usually appears on the face, ears shoulder and neck where the skin is exposed to sunlight. However, it can also appear on other parts of body such as the abdomen, leg, and scalp exposed to sun's ultraviolet rays. BCC, if untreated, can damage the skin and cause an ulcer known as a rodent ulcer. In few cases, contact with arsenic, exposure to radiation, open sores, lesions that do not heal, inflammatory skin conditions, and complications of burn scars, infection, vaccination, or even tattoos are contributing factors.

This type of cancer is characterized by small tumors in its early stage that can be cured with simple surgeries. However, neglected it can invade vast areas of skin. These types of cancers can also spread along the bones, cartilages, muscular tissues and more rarely, nerve tissue. Some tumors may eventually extend to eye or brain or become large enough to disfigure entire face. Very few basal cell carcinomas spread to distant organs or metastasize.

It is usually diagnosed with a skin biopsy (where tissue is taken for pathological analysis) is done using local anesthesia. Small basal cell carcinomas are removed with electrodessication and curettage method while larger basal cell carcinomas are removed by standard surgical excision. This carcinoma present on the head, scalp, face, neck, ears is treated by Mohs surgery or Mohs micrographic surgery.



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Skin cancer is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found on the epidermis (the outermost layers of skin) so the tumor is usually clearly visible. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

The most common symptoms of any type of skin cancer include changes in the skin that do not heal within 4 weeks, a spot or sore that continue to itch, blood, discolored skin, and changes in existing moles such as ragged, notched or blurred edges of mole or enlargement of mole.

Signs and symptoms of Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell carcinoma usually looks like a small, slow growing shiny pink or red lump. Sometimes small blood vessels can be seen within the tumor. They usually appear on face, scalp, ears and shoulders. If left untreated, they tend to bleed frequently. This form of skin cancer is least deadly and with proper treatment, it can be completely cured within short period of time.

Signs and symptoms Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma is usually pink, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin. If left untreated, it tends to become crusty, ulcerate or bleed and it may develop into large mass. Squamous cell is second most common skin cancer; it is fatal but not as fatal as melanoma.

Signs and symptoms of Melanoma: Most melanomas are brown to black looking lesions with irregular border. Signs that might indicate a malignant melanoma include change in diameter, shape, color or elevation of a mole. Other signs are the appearance of a new mole during adulthood on trunk, neck or head or pain, itching, inflammation, ulceration or bleeding in existing mole.



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Skin doctors promote regular self examination of skin because research shows that self-skin exam can lead to early detection of skin cancer. Skin cancer detected and treated in its early stages is 95 percent curable disease. Even melanoma one of the most deadly form skin cancer if detected and treated early is highly curable.

Self examination for skin cancer means checking your own skin every three to six months for any abnormal growth or unusual changes in the size, color, shape or texture of your skin. It is important for you or your partner to look carefully whole body as skin cancer can occur anywhere. Be sure to check your back head, face, scalp, elbow, arms, underarms, palms, soles and skin between soles and palm. Use a mirror to examine hard-to-see areas such as your back, buttocks and genitals.

When you perform skin self-exam, look for new skin markings (moles, blemishes, colorations, bumps). Note changes on your skin, such as color or texture of your skin or mole that have changed in size, texture, color, or lesions that bleed continuously and will not heal. Look for small lumps or mass that are smooth glossy and waxy, or red or reddish brown. Be alert to flat red spots that are rough or scaly and have diameter larger than 3 millimeters. You can also maintain a diary or a journal to keep notes of skin changes.

The self-skin exam takes no more than 8 to 10 minutes, but that 10 minutes could save your life. The best time to do self-skin exam is at the time of taking bath or after a shower. If you are concerned about developing any form of skin cancer, consult your primary health care provider or dermatologist as soon as possible.



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An innovative study by US medical researchers at the Ohio State University (OSU) has revealed that stress amplifies the progression of malignant melanoma, a particular form of skin cancer. Malignant melanoma is one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer that is becoming increasingly common worldwide.

After two years of research, medical researchers came to a conclusion that there is a link between stress hormones and cancer. The stress hormone, norepinephrine also known as "flight or fight" hormone, produces enzyme that stimulates blood vessels to grow in melanoma tumors, accelerating the progression and spread of tumors, the researchers explained. These findings were published in the February 2009 issue of the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

A research team including Eric V. Yang a research scientist at Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research (IBMR), and Ronald Glaser, a professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics observed effects of stress hormone, norepinephrine on three different types of proteins released by melanoma cells -1) Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); 2) Interleukin-6 and; 3) Interleukin-8 all proteins active in growth of tumors.

The three malignant tumor cells lines, i.e. VEGF, intereleukin-6 and interleukin-8, were introduced to the norepinephrine and all the three showed increase in levels expressed, particularly in the most advanced line which showed a 2000 percent increase in levels of interleukin-6 thus establishing the fact that stress has worse effect on aggressive and advanced stage malignant melanoma.

The researchers believe their findings would help slow down the progression of malignant melanoma and offer new hope for prolonging the lives of patients suffering with advanced stage malignant melanoma.



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