BCC is the most common form of skin cancer. It can occur in young adults, but is more common in the elderly. It can present as a small pearly nodule, ulcer or plaque-like lesion. BCC can usually be diagnosed by examination alone, but sometimes a biopsy is required.
Treatment
Small BCCs are usually removed under local anaesthetic, but a general anaesthetic may be more comfortable for larger BCCs.
The tumour is excised and sent to the pathologist to be tested. Occasionally the pathologist is present at surgery to test the margins. This is called ‘frozen section’ and can help ensure the tumour is completely excised when it has indistinct margins, or is in a critical area.
After removal, Dr Moko will accurately stitch the wound edges and a straight line scar will result. For larger defects, a skin graft or flap may be required.
In the early stages, some BCCs can be treated by freezing the skin with liquid nitrogen. Radiotherapy is occasionally used if you are unsuitable for surgery.
Recovery
You can usually go home on the day of surgery and return to work the next day. Strenuous activity should be avoided for 3 weeks. More extensive surgery will slow your return to normal.
