Even the Least Dangerous Skin Cancer Is No Trivial Matter

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer and the least dangerous - but it’s far from a trivial matter, reports the May issue of the Harvard Women’s Health Watch. The good news is that basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads (metastasizes), and it can easily be treated and cured when discovered early.

Basal cell skin cancers almost always occur in areas exposed to the sun: 80% show up on the head and neck. The face is particularly vulnerable. The most common form - nodular - usually shows up as a shiny bump and may bleed easily. It often ulcerates and crusts over. Superficial basal cell carcinoma forms a red, scaly, sometimes itchy spot and may have flecks of dark pigment. It’s often mistaken for a patch of dermatitis. Morpheaform, a rarer and more aggressive type, has a waxy white or yellow scarlike appearance and poorly defined borders.

Basal cell carcinoma grows slowly and occurs mostly in people over age 55. Sun exposure is the biggest risk factor. Treatment options include freezing, surgical removal, radiation, and topical creams. Each has a cure rate of 90% or more for first-time cancers.

The article also discusses the trends in tanning, which has not always been in fashion. Before the 20th century, for example, tan skin suggested outdoor labor and a lower social status, says Harvard Women’s Health Watch. The switch to the tanning as socially desirable and fashionable came in the 1920s, after French designer Coco Chanel returned from a Riviera holiday sporting a bronzed look.

Also in this issue:

A doctor answers: What is the least healthy fat to bake with? Do mold spores cause lung cancer?

Harvard Women’s Health Watch is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $24 per year. Subscribe at http://www.health.harvard.edu/women or by calling 1-877-649-9457 (toll free).

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