Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment

When BCC is diagnosed in its early stage, it is easily treated unlike when the tumor has extensively grown, which will need more advanced treatment. It should be noted that BCC is not contagious nor does it affect other parts of the body except in rare cases of surrounding tissues being infected. The confirmation of BCC in one’s skin by a physician is mainly diagnosed via a biopsy. Fortunately, there are many ways to treat BCC if diagnosed, one of them being undertaking a Mohs Micrographic Surgery (Alguire, 2009). In this surgery, a physician removes the tumor inclusive of a thin layer of tissue around it, and then the excision is checked thoroughly under a microscope until the area shows it is tumor-free. This type of surgery registers the highest cure rate of around 98% and is often used for tumors that have recurred, that are poorly demarcated, or those diagnosed in the critical parts such as the eyes, nose, lips, and ears (Marchac, 2011).

Another form of treatment is excisional surgery. In this type of surgery, the entire growth, along with a surrounding border of the normal skin, is removed as a safety margin (Marchac, 2011). Afterward, the surrounding skin after the surgery is closed using a number of stitches. The removed part is then to the laboratory for further test in order to establish whether the tumor is completely removed.