Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) accounts for 80% of all nonmelanoma skin cancers. Its metastasis is extremely rare, ranging between 0.0028 and 0.55 of all BCC cases. The usual metastasis to lymph nodes, lungs, bones, or skin is from the primary tumor situated in the head and neck region in nearly 85% cases.

If left untreated, basal cell carcinomas can become quite large, cause disfigurement, and in rare cases, spread to other parts of the body and cause death.

Though not as common as basal cell (about one million new cases a year), squamous cell is more serious because it is likely to spread (metastasize).

One type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma begins in the basal cells, which make skin cells that continuously push older cells toward the surface. As new cells move upward, they become flattened squamous cells, where a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma can occur.

At first, a basal cell carcinoma comes up like a small “pearly” bump that looks like a flesh-colored mole or a pimple that doesn’t go away. Sometimes these growths can look dark. Or you may also see shiny pink or red patches that are slightly scaly. Another symptom to watch out for is a waxy, hard skin growth.

Stages are numbered in Roman numerals between 0 and IV.

• Stage 0. Cancer is found only in the original tumor in the skin.
• Stage 1. The tumor is 2 centimeters wide or smaller.
• Stage 2. The tumor is larger than 2 centimeters and may have spread from the epidermis into the dermis.
• Stage 3.
• Stage 4.

The dermatologist scrapes or shaves off the BCC using a curette (a sharp instrument with a ring-shaped tip), then uses heat or a chemical agent to destroy remaining cancer cells, stop the bleeding and seal off the wound.

More than one freezing may be needed to remove the growth completely. Cryosurgery usually doesn’t hurt, but you may have pain and swelling after the area thaws. A white scar may form in the treated area.

Treatment of superficial truncal basal cell carcinomas with a single freeze-thaw cycle achieved a cure rate of 95.5%.

Leaving Basal Cell Carcinoma Untreated Basal cell carcinoma is a slow growing cancer, but this doesn’t mean it can be ignored. This is the least dangerous form of skin cancer and rarely spreads to other internal parts of the body. While death is a rare consequence there is the potential for disfigurement.