Carcinomas Explained: Symptoms, Remedies, and Additional Information
Common Types of Carcinoma: Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are two common types of non-melanoma skin cancers with distinct symptoms, treatments, and risk factors.
Common Symptoms
- BCC typically appears as a pearly or waxy bump, often with visible blood vessels, or as a flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion. It may bleed easily or develop into an ulcer if untreated. BCC lesions tend to grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body.
- SCC usually presents as a firm, red nodule or a flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface. It can also appear as an open sore that does not heal or bleeds repeatedly. SCC may arise on sun-exposed areas or, less commonly, in areas with chronic skin injury or scars. Bowen's disease is a precancerous form of SCC appearing as a red, scaly patch, which can progress to invasive SCC if untreated.
Risk Factors
- Shared risk factors for BCC and SCC:
- Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure from the sun or tanning beds is the principal risk factor, with cumulative exposure contributing most.
- Lighter skin types (Fitzpatrick phototypes I-III), light hair and eye color, and childhood freckling increase BCC risk.
- Genetic disorders such as xeroderma pigmentosum elevate risk due to DNA repair defects.
- Previous skin cancers or precancerous lesions (e.g., actinic keratoses) increase risk, especially for SCC.
- Additional SCC risk factors:
- Chronic wounds, scars, burns, prior radiation exposure, arsenic exposure.
- Immunosuppression (e.g., organ transplant recipients).
- Tobacco smoking and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.
Treatment Options
- BCC treatment depends on size, location, and subtype but commonly includes:
- Surgical excision or Mohs micrographic surgery for high-risk or larger tumors.
- Curettage and electrodessication.
- Topical therapies (e.g., imiquimod) for superficial BCC.
- Radiation therapy for inoperable cases.
- SCC treatment often involves:
- Surgical excision or Mohs surgery, especially for high-risk or invasive lesions.
- Curettage and electrodessication for small, low-risk SCC.
- Radiation therapy for lesions not suitable for surgery.
- Topical treatments or photodynamic therapy may be used in early or in situ disease like Bowen's disease.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) | Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) | |-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Symptoms | Pearly/waxy bump, visible blood vessels, may ulcerate | Hard, scaly red nodule or patch, open sore, crusting, sometimes ulcerated | | Main risk factors | UV exposure, light skin (Fitzpatrick I-III), childhood freckles, genetics | UV exposure, scars, chronic wounds, arsenic, immunosuppression, HPV, smoking | | Aggressiveness | Slow-growing, rarely metastasizes | More aggressive, can metastasize if untreated | | Precancerous lesions| - | Bowen's disease (SCC in situ), actinic keratoses | | Common treatments | Surgical excision, Mohs surgery, topical agents, radiation therapy | Surgical excision, Mohs surgery, radiation, topical/photodynamic therapy |
Both cancers require early diagnosis and treatment to prevent local tissue damage and, in SCC, possible metastasis. Regular skin checks and UV protection are important preventive measures.
- Kidney cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma are hostile medical-conditions that, like basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), demand early detection for effective treatment.
- In health-and-wellness discussions, it's essential to understand that skin care plays a critical role in minimizing the risk of types of cancer such as BCC, SCC, and even melanoma, which typically exhibits as a dark-brown to black mole with an irregular border and varying colors.
- The science behind the development of various medical-conditions like cancers such as breast cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, and even BCC and SCC, is extensively studied to uncover better detection methods and more effective treatments.
- Recipients of organ transplants need to be extra vigilant about their health-and-wellness, as their immunosuppression state makes them more susceptible to skin cancers such as BCC and SCC, tobacco-related cancers like lung cancer, and various other cancer types such as melanoma and breast cancer.
