Treatment Options
Basal Cell Carcinoma: Body
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is a non-worrying form of skin cancer that does not have a risk of spreading elsewhere in the body or causing you health problems, however if left untreated it will grow deeper and wider. Treatment options include surgical treatments and radiotherapy.
Wide Local Excision
The tumour is removed with a margin of approximately 4mm and the defect is stitched to leave a scar that is usually at least 3 times as long as the tumour. Cure rates are around 95% for primary (previously untreated) BCC.
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Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy can be an effective treatment for BCC. It generally involves a number of treatments over several weeks. The cure rate depends upon the site and nature of the tumour but generally will be lower than for surgical excision or Mohs micrographic surgery. The treatment is performed by an oncologist and you should meet with them if you would like further information about this treatment option.
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Curettage and Cautery
The tumour is removed by scraping (curettage) or superficial shaving (saucerisation) under local anaesthetic to leave a scar a little larger than the size of the tumour. It is less invasive than other surgical treatments but the risk of recurrence or incomplete treatment is significantly higher. It is rarely advised for higher risk tumours or sensitive facial sites.
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