What is the difference between basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer?

Common Questions Mary Radford, RN | June 24, 2011 at 3:52 pm | Categories: Common Questions | URL: http://wp.me/pMnJi-oL

 

What is the difference between basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer?

Basal cell carcinoma is by far the most common skin cancer, accounting for one million of the 1.3 million skin cancer diagnoses each year. Developing at the lowest level of the epidermis, this skin cancer often appears as a pink shiny bump on the top of the head, nose, face, neck or chest. It doesn’t hurt, but may bleed and crust over. It is often mistaken for a pimple that doesn’t heal because it just sits there and slowly grows. If you have something that resembles a pimple on your face for more than three months, it could be a cancer. Basal cell carcinoma seldom spreads to other parts of the body but can be disfiguring if not treated early.

Squamous cell carcinoma also develops in the uppermost layers of the epidermis. These red, scaling patches that do not heal usually appear on areas of the body that have the most exposure to the sun like your face, backs of hands, rims of ears, and lips. Squamous cell carcinoma is easy to treat in its early stages but if ignored can spread to other organs and even be fatal. Squamous cell carcinoma kills approximately 2,500 Americans each year.

 

My father and I have a few moles on the face and neck. Should we be worried about cancer?

Most bumps and growths that appear over the course of our lives are harmless, representing only a cosmetic concern. For any new growth, we recommend seeing a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options. Rarely, more serious medical conditions may mimic one of these harmless lesions.

We recommend that you map the location of your moles and look for any changes over time. In addition, schedule an annual full body check with your dermatologist.

Posted via email from Beautiful Skin with Rodan+Fields