Basal Cell Carcinoma

By now, you’ve most likely seen this photo of Hugh Jackman.

 

The Wolverine himself announced to the world that he had skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, removed from his nose.  The bandage wasn't because he had plastic surgery or was in a fight.  He had skin cancer.  This photo made it to all the entertainment news shows while the phrase “skin cancer” was simultaneously spoken.  That’s a good step to increasing awareness.  But what exactly is basal cell carcinoma and how serious is it?

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) are abnormal growths from the basal cells of the skin, which are located in the deepest layer of the outer skin.   The very rarely spread to other areas of the body, but they can grow in size and become disfiguring if not addressed.

BCC usually occurs on skin that is exposed to the sun the most, such as on the nose, ears, face, scalp, neck, shoulders or back.  It can develop by other means (radiation exposure, contact with arsenic, tattooing, complications from burns, etc.) but UV radiation is the primary cause.

While anyone can get it, those with fair skin, red or blonde hair, and blue or green eyes are more likely to be diagnosed with BCC.  Treatments can range from topical medications, cryosurgery (“freezing it off”), radiation, or Mohs surgery.  Basal Cell Carcinoma is rarely fatal, but again, can become rather disfiguring and scarring, particularly if left untreated.

Skin cancer in general is diagnosed annually more than cancers of the breast, colon, lung and prostate combined!  BCC is the most common form of skin cancer with about 2.8 million occurrences diagnosed every year.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is very treatable and, unfortunately has led to the “simply cut out skin cancer” mentality.  But even if the treatment is that simple, multiple scars and potentially disfiguring surgery is never a preferred choice for anyone, particularly A-list Hollywood stars.  BCC can be quite serious, even if it is “just skin cancer.”

 

I invite you to visit the Skin Cancer Foundations website at www.skincancer.org for more information.

Witnessing Ignorance During A Good Haircut

My family and I went to our family haircut this past Saturday morning.  Yes, despite having all different hair styles, we tend to get our locks cut during the same hour-long appointment every six weeks.  It works out, it’s convenient, and it’s a money saver.  But I had a little issue with my recent appointment.  Oh, there’s nothing wrong with our hair cuts.  The lady that cuts all our hair does an incredible job and we’re very happy with how we look when we leave.  Even my mother-in-law goes to this gal.  No, my current personal dilemma is related to the fact that the business is a hair styling…and tanning salon.

For the most part, I’ve somewhat ignored the coffin-like beds in the back rooms.  They’re there, but they seem rarely used.  We’ve been going to this establishment for a number of years and I never recall anyone using the beds, until this past Saturday.

An older lady that looked like she was in her sixties was the patron of the tanning service.  She was dressed in a sleeveless blouse and shorts…appropriate for the mid-90 degree heat of central North Carolina.  I could see that her skin was deeply freckled and she was quite tan.  Very tan in fact.  I wondered why she even wanted to use the bed…she was THAT tan.  Her appointment was short…less than 15 minutes.  As she left, she asked if she could come back on Monday.  It turns out that they were going to be closed this Monday, so she immediately made an appointment for Tuesday.

After she left, one of the hair stylists asked the other why the lady was so anxious to return for another tanning session.  It was stated that she was going to the beach for the Independence Day weekend and wanted to get a base tan.  She’d been visiting the tanning bed every day for the past week.

I kept my mouth shut.  While I don’t agree with the use of tanning beds, they ARE legal and it’s the responsibility of each person to decide whether they should use them or not.  (I’ll not get into the tanning for minors debate right now).  This lady obviously decided she “needed” that tan…it’s her choice.  It’s a stupid choice.

I wasn’t mad at the business.  They have every right to have such a business, and I can only assume they run it well within the law.  They seem like really good people, and I won’t judge them based on my personal disgust at the tanning industry.

I was mad at the woman.  Not at the personal choice to make her freckled (and I saw a couple moles) skin look more leathery…but at the example she’s making of herself.  I’m sure she has a child and possibly a grandchild (or maybe she wasn’t as old as she looked)…someone that looks up to her.  She’s setting an example that tanning is okay.  I would bet she’s had a couple pre-cancerous or basal cell carcinoma spots removed in her lifetime…and thus has solidified her opinion that skin cancer can simply be cut out.  It infuriated me to witness her disregard for what she was doing to herself, but more so to the image she was possibly portraying as acceptable to others.

I’m not a picket sign-welding activist type by any means.  My written speech is more effective and clearer than my spoken word.  I almost wish I would have said something to this lady, but I didn’t.  I have to wonder if I can keep my mouth shut during a future appointment should someone else seem to make poor decisions.  I don’t want to jeopardize my family’s acceptance into this hair salon, and I respect our stylist too much as a friend to want to do anything to affect her business, especially in this economy.  This is my dilemma.

Most likely I’ll continue to be quiet, but I’ve realized lately that the word NEEDS to get out more than I share here.  I love sharing my thoughts, and sharing information via my Facebook page.  I don’t plan on stopping for a long time.  At the same time, I wonder if I’m preaching to the choir.

I have some thoughts of how to change that…of how I can get the word out and help to educate those who need to be educated.  I won’t share just yet, but I’ll announce it soon.  (I learned after announcing I would have t-shirts available soon that there are unforeseen issues lurking about.  On which, by the way, I’m still working).  In the meantime, I’d be interested in hearing your stories on getting out the word…of increasing the community’s awareness of skin cancer and melanoma.

Keep spreading the word while you keep spreading the sunscreen!

Melanoma's Milder Siblings - Not To Be Taken Lightly

As I, and many other bloggers, have stated, melanoma doesn’t seem to get the same “respect” as other cancers.  One reason for this is the relatively easy treatment of skin cancer when it’s caught early.  Depending on which source you read, the five-year survival rate of even the beast of all skin cancers, melanoma, is well above 90% when the cancer is detected in its early stages.  So if such cancer can be treated so easily, why worry about it…right?  But then again, the non- melanoma cancers should not be so easily ignored.

Basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, is the most common cancer of all cancers, affecting about a million Americans each year.  More than one out of three new cancers is a skin cancer and the vast majority is BCC.  Even more so than melanoma, BCC can be easily treated in its early stage.  But the larger the tumor has grown, the more extensive the treatment.  Basal cell carcinoma rarely metastasizes or spreads like melanoma, but if left untreated or ignored, it could result in skin destruction and disfiguring.  Recently, Governor Jerry Brown of California had a BCC removed from his nose and required plastic surgery afterwards.

The other, more serious skin cancer sibling is squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC.  Like BCC, SCC is often found in areas where sun exposure is high, such as the ear, face, bald scalp, neck, hands arms and legs.  Those who have had a basal cell carcinoma are more likely to develop a squamous cell carcinoma.  The majority of skin cancer found in African Americans is SCC, usually arising from sites of burns or skin injuries.  A small percentage (2% to 10%) of SCC can metastasize which can be life-threatening.  About 2,500 people die each year from squamous cell carcinoma.

The treatment percentage for BCC and SCC is very high when compared to melanoma, and the resulting ease to remove the tumor in early stages contributes to people’s misunderstanding of the seriousness of all skin cancers, including melanoma.  But it’s important to remember that both of these milder “cut-it-out” cancers can result in disfiguring scars from the surgery, or even death.  And just like melanoma, it’s important to remember that UV radiation and over exposure to sunlight is the main cause.

It bears repeating…use sunscreen and be smart about sun exposure.  Even simple ol’ skin cancer can have devastating consequences.