Treatment and Prognosis
Basal cell cancer is treated with microscopic surgery, radiotherapy, local injection of chemotherapy drugs or using cryotherapy.
Basal cell cancer or basal cell carcinoma is treated with excision of the cancer using microscopic surgery. Following surgery, the wound is closed in case of small cancers or repaired with plastic surgery in case of larger cancers. Excision should be complete to prevent the cancer from recurring.
Superficial cancers can also be treated with local injections of anticancer drugs like 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod or with cryotherapy.
Prognosis – Is generally good for treatment with complete cure. Death from basal cell cancer is rare and accounts for less than 0.1% of patient deaths due to cancer.
It rarely spreads to distant locations and the incidence of this is only 0.028 to 0.55%.
Prognosis or outcome of basal cell cancer is guarded in the following cases:
- Large cancers more than 2 cm in width.
- Location near the eye, nose and ear.
- Ill-defined margins.
- Recurrent cancers. Those located near the inner angle of the eye have the highest rate of recurrence.
- Cancers occurring in patients with decreased immunity.
Reference:
- Bailey and Love Short Practice of Surgery 25th edition.
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I was diagnosed with large basal cell ca tumor on ear last week. Recoomended partial resection of ear. Have noticed accellerated growth of nodule since taking methotrexate 15mg ea Friday for severe inflammation with RA. Should I proceed with surgery and what about continuing methotrexate....Rheumatologist says methotrexate is treatment for cancer, continue taking it. Thank you for your advice Ingrid Mullins
I have an ulcerated basal cell carcinoma near my eye. You mentioned the prognosis is worse if the bcc is near the eye. Why is this?
very well written article covering all aspects of Rodent ulcer or basal cell cancer
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