Treatment and Prognosis of Basal Cell Cancer

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.

Radiotherapy is also effective against this cancer, however it leaves bad scars. Hence it may be an option in old or infirm patients, especially those who have a life expectancy of less than 10 years.

Superficial cancers can also be treated with local injections of anticancer drugs like 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod or with cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is a procedure where the tissue is frozen and destroyed by exposing it to cold carbon dioxide. Cryotherapy is not a preferred option and may be used in selected cases only.

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.