Treatment:

Treatment depends on the size, depth, and location of the skin cancer, and your overall health.

Treatment may involve:

• Excision: Cutting out the skin cancer and stitching the skin together
• Curettage and electrodesiccation: Scraping away cancer cells and using electricity to kill any that remain
• Cryosurgery: Freezing the cancer cells, which kills them
• Medication: Skin creams containing imiquimod or 5-fluorouracil for superficial (not very deep) basal cell cancer
• Johns surgery: Removing a layer of skin and looking at it immediately under a microscope, then removing many layers of skin until there are no signs of the cancer; Usually used for skin cancers on the nose, ears, and other areas of the face.
• Photodynamic therapy: Treatment using light

Radiation may be used if a basal cell cancer cannot be treated with surgery.

Expectations (prognosis):

How well a patient does depends on many things, including how quickly the cancer was diagnosed. Most of these cancers are cured when treated early.

Some basal cell cancers may return. Smaller ones are less likely to come back. Basal cell carcinoma almost never spreads to other parts of the body.

If you have had skin cancer, you should have regular check-ups so that a doctor can examine your skin. You should also examine your skin once a month. Use a hand mirror to check hard-to-see places. Call your doctor if you notice anything unusual.

Complications:

Basal cell skin cancer almost never spreads. But, if left untreated, it may grow into surrounding areas and nearby tissues and bone. This is most worrisome around the nose, eyes, and ears.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you notice any changes in your skin. You should also call if an existing spot becomes painful or swollen, or if it starts to bleed or itch.