Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsUntreatedStaging and GradingCure and Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Untreated
Staging and Grading
Cure and Treatment
Basal cell skin cancer(basal cell carcinoma) is usually treatable and can even be curable. If it’s not treated, basal cell skin carcinoma can cause disfigurement and other complications.
Most of the time, removing basal cell skin cancer is the only treatment needed. It is unusual for basal cell carcinoma to cause death. Approximately 2,000 people in the United States die each year from basal and squamous skin cancers. Most people who die from these skin cancers are older, immunosuppressed, or diagnosed at a very late stage.
This article will go over how serious basal cell skin cancer is and what can happen if it’s untreated.
LCBallard / Getty Images
How Basal Cell Carcinoma Grows
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, with approximately 80% of skin cancers developing from basal cells.The top layer of skin (epidermis) has three types of cells. The cells in the bottom layer are the basal cells.
Basal cells consistently divide to make new cells to replace squamous cells. As they do, they push old cells toward the skin’s surface where they die and slough off. Cancers that start in the bottom/basal layer of skin cells are called basal cell carcinomas.
What Does Basal Cell Carcinoma Look Like?
Basal cell carcinomas are most common on the head, face, and neck (as these areas are typically the most sun-exposed parts of the body).
Types of Basal Cell Carcinoma
There are several types of basal cell carcinoma, including:
You can get more than one type of basal cell carcinoma at the same time. If you have one type, it increases your risk of getting another. However, basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
How fast different basal cell carcinomas grow depends on various factors, including the type of tumor and the age of the patient. When researchers measure basal cell carcinoma tumor growth, they look at how much it grows side to side (lateral) and how much it grows down into the skin (depth extension).
One study found that:
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What Happens If Basal Cell Carcinoma is Untreated?
Untreated basal cell carcinoma can spread across the skin tissue and may lead to disfigurement. Although it’s rare, basal cell skin cancer can spread and metastasize to other parts of the body, such as the bones and lungs.
Other complications of basal skin cancer include:
Staging Basal Cell Carcinoma
In most cases, basal cell carcinoma does not require staging since it rarely spreads. Staging is only needed if the cancer is very large or has spread. Providers use staging to determine how severe the cancer is and how to treat it.
TheTNMsystem is used most often to stage cancer:
Staging
The stages of skin cancer are numbered and graded as follows:
How Common Is Stage 4 Basal Cell Carcinoma?Even though basal cell carcinoma is common, it’s very rare for the cancer to spread (metastasize). Studies have shown that less than 0.5% of basal cell carcinomas are metastatic.
How Common Is Stage 4 Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Even though basal cell carcinoma is common, it’s very rare for the cancer to spread (metastasize). Studies have shown that less than 0.5% of basal cell carcinomas are metastatic.
High Risk Features
These features of skin cancer are defined as high-risk:
Grading
Grading is a way to describe skin cancer based on its cellular appearance under a microscope.
Can Basal Cell Carcinoma Be Cured?
Treatment varies depending on the subtype, staging, and location of the basal skin cancer. Surgery is often the first method of treatment. This can include:
Local treatments may also be used for small tumors or those that haven’t grown deeply into the skin. These include:
In some cases, basal skin cancer can come back (recur). The risk of basal cell carcinoma recurrence appears to be linked to the type of treatment used to treat the cancer. Research has suggested that the recurrence risk for basal cell carcinoma is:
For rare cases where the basal cell cancer has spread and is not responding to other treatments (including surgery), targeted therapies orimmunotherapycan also be used.
Get to Know Your Skin and Check It RegularlyLook out for changes to your skin such as:A mole that bleeds; changes shape, color, or size; or develops an irregular borderA new spot on the skin that changes in size, shape, or colorSores that don’t healNew bumps, lumps, or spots that don’t go awayShiny, waxy, or scar-type lesionsNew dark patches of skin have appearedRough, red, scaly, skin patchesIf you notice any changes to your skin, tell your provider. Basal cell carcinoma is very treatable when it’s caught early.
Get to Know Your Skin and Check It Regularly
Look out for changes to your skin such as:A mole that bleeds; changes shape, color, or size; or develops an irregular borderA new spot on the skin that changes in size, shape, or colorSores that don’t healNew bumps, lumps, or spots that don’t go awayShiny, waxy, or scar-type lesionsNew dark patches of skin have appearedRough, red, scaly, skin patchesIf you notice any changes to your skin, tell your provider. Basal cell carcinoma is very treatable when it’s caught early.
Look out for changes to your skin such as:
If you notice any changes to your skin, tell your provider. Basal cell carcinoma is very treatable when it’s caught early.
Summary
Basal cell carcinoma can look different from one person to another. This is why it is important to check your skin regularly and report any changes or concerns to your healthcare provider. Skin cancers can be treated if found early, but they can spread, cause disfigurement, or metastasize if left untreated.
Basal cell skin cancer has excellent survival rates when it is treated early. Regularly checking your skin will help you catch changes early.
The best way to lower your risk of developing basal cell skin cancer is through prevention. Protect yourself from harmful UV rays with sunscreen, sunglasses, and clothing as much as possible.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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American Academy of Dermatology Association.Skin cancer types: Basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms.
American Cancer Society.About basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
Fijałkowska M, Bonczar M, Jastrzębski I, Ostrowski P, Antoszewski B, Koziej M.Growth rate of basal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis and systematic review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2023;40(2):220-224. doi:10.5114/ada.2023.124795
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American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer stages.
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American Society for Mohs Surgery.What patients need to know about skin cancer recurrence.
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