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Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. In the vast majority of cases, it is curable. This is because it grows very slowly, and almost always stays in the area of the skin where it first starts. In some cases, if it is left untreated for long enough, it may be life-threatening. There are about 66,000 new cases of BCC every year in the UK, but almost no deaths are due to it.
An old-fashioned term for BCC is ‘rodent ulcer’.
BCC starts in the basal cells, found in the deepest layer of the outer skin (epidermis).
Exposure to sunlight is important in the development of BCC. It is especially common on the head, the face, the area near the nose, and the neck. It can develop almost anywhere.
The first sign is often a spot or lump that will not heal, and that usually grows very slowly. A typical BCC is firm and pearly-looking.
Cancer occurs when normal body cells get out of control and multiply. These cells clump together to form a cancerous or malignant tumour which can then grow and damage healthy parts of the body. This is primary cancer. For more general information on 'what is cancer', click here.
It is possible to have more than one primary BCC at a time.
