Basal Cell Carcinoma

Subject: Medical and Surgical Nursing I (Theory)

Overview

Skin cancer of the basal cell carcinoma variety exists. Basal cells, a type of skin cell that creates new skin cells as old ones degenerate, are where basal cell cancer starts. Despite having numerous appearances, basal cell carcinoma frequently takes the form of a waxy bump. The skin on your face and neck, which is frequently exposed to the sun, is where basal cell carcinoma tends to develop most frequently. Some of its causes include radiation exposure, gene mutation, ingested arsenic exposure, immunosuppression, etc. an area on your back or breast that is flat, scaly, brown or flesh-colored. These areas may get fairly huge with time. Treatment options include topical treatments or surgery. A nurse should look for any deviations from the patient's usual skin characteristics by examining the patient's skin's color, texture, turgor, and pigmentation.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Definition

Skin cancer of the basal cell carcinoma variety exists. Basal cells, a type of skin cell that creates new skin cells as old ones degenerate, are where basal cell cancer starts. Despite having numerous appearances, basal cell carcinoma frequently takes the form of a waxy bump. The skin on your face and neck, which is frequently exposed to the sun, is where basal cell carcinoma tends to develop most frequently. Long-term sun exposure is regarded to be the primary cause of the majority of basal cell carcinomas. Utilizing sunscreen and avoiding the sun's rays may help prevent basal cell cancer.

Etiology

  • Exposure to radiation
  • Gene change.
  • Exposure to arsenic through food.
  • Immunosuppression.
  • Pigmented xeroderma.
  • Prior skin cancer that wasn't melanoma.
  • Alcoholic beverages.

Symptoms

Basal cell carcinomas typically appear on sun-exposed body areas, particularly the head and neck. On the legs and trunk, relatively fewer occurrences are seen. However, basal cell carcinomas can also develop on areas of your body that don't get much sun exposure.

Although a sore that won't heal or that frequently bleeds and scabs over is a warning sign of skin cancer, basal cell cancer can also manifest as

  • A pearly white or waxy protrusion on your face, neck, or ears that frequently has visible blood vessels. The bump could bleed and turn crusty. This kind of cancer might be brown or black in those with darker skin tones.
  • A brown or flesh-colored spot that is flat and scaly on your back or breast. These areas may get fairly huge with time.
  • An uncommonr white, waxy scar. This sort of basal cell carcinoma is simple to ignore, but it may be a symptom of morphea form basal cell carcinoma, a very aggressive and disfiguring malignancy.

Tests and Diagnosis

Your doctor might: in order to identify basal cell carcinoma

  • Examine Your Skin
    • Your doctor will examine the spot on your skin that seems suspicious. Additionally, he or she will scan the rest of your body for any additional skin anomalies.
  • Obtain a Skin Sample For Testing
    • Your doctor might do a skin biopsy, which entails taking a tiny sample of the atypical skin to be examined in a lab. This will show if you have skin cancer and what kind, if any, you have. The kind of skin biopsy you have depends on your circumstances.

Treatments and Drugs

There are numerous therapies for basal cell carcinoma. The kind, location, and severity of your cancer will determine which treatment is best for you. Treatments for basal cell carcinoma that are often utilized include

  • Electrodesiccation and Curettage (ED&C)
    • ED&C entails scraping the skin cancer's surface with a tool called a "curette" before using an electric needle to scorch the cancer's base.
  • Surgical Excision
    • Your doctor removes the malignant tissue along with a border of good skin during this surgery. You might undergo a broad excision in some circumstances, which entails removing more healthy skin around the malignancy. If you have a large basal cell carcinoma, surgery may be an option.
  • Freezing
    • Liquid nitrogen is used to kill cancerous cells in this process. It is helpful for cancers that are not deeply rooted in the skin and are very thin.
  • Mohs Surgery
    • Layer by layer, your doctor removes the cancer cells from the affected area while closely examining each layer to ensure that no abnormal cells are left behind.
  • Topical Treatments
    • Creams or ointments can be used to treat basal cell carcinoma that is superficial and doesn't penetrate the skin very deeply.

Nursing Management

  • Keep a record of the patient's history of burns, burn sites, and scars.
  • Establish the patient's radiation exposure history, and make sure to inquire about their employment history.
  • Look for variations from typical skin parameters in the patient's skin's color, texture, turgor, and pigmentation.
  • Encourage thorough grooming to support the patient's sense of self-worth and body image.
  • By allowing the patient to participate in decision-making, you may accept their look and cultivate a healthy self-image.
  • Encourage the patient to express their worries and fears out loud, respond to any inquiries, and provide reassurance when necessary.

 References

  • allure630.com › Latest News
  • belfastskinclinic.com › Skin Conditions › Lumps & Bumps › Skin Cancer
  • github.com/dallen4/DrTxt/blob/master/diseases.txt
  • hcgoncology.com › Patient Care › Skin Cancer
  • Mandal, G. (August 2013). A Textbook of Adult Health Nursing (2nd ed.). Dilllibazar kathmandu: Makalu publication house. Retrieved August 2013
  • pharmacypedia.org/diseases-and-conditions/cancer-basal-cell-basal-cell-carcinoma/
  • pakwebmd.com/Disease/DiseaseInformation?id=226
  • sites.google.com/site/knowndieases/home/dieases
  • virinchihospitals.com/livehealthy/diseases-and-conditions/basal-cell-carcinoma
Things to remember
  • Skin cancer of the basal cell carcinoma variety exists.
  • The skin on your face and neck, which is frequently exposed to the sun, is where basal cell carcinoma tends to develop most frequently.
  • Long-term sun exposure is regarded to be the primary cause of the majority of basal cell carcinomas.
  • Take a piece of skin off for testing.
  • Look for deviations from normal skin parameters in the patient's color, texture, turgor, and pigmentation.
  • Establish the patient's radiation exposure history, and make careful to inquire about the patient's employment history.
Questions and Answers

Skin cancer of the basal cell carcinoma kind exists. Basal cells, a type of skin cell that produces new skin cells as old ones degenerate, are where basal cell carcinoma starts.

Despite having other appearances, basal cell carcinoma frequently takes the form of a waxy bump. The skin on your face and neck, which is frequently exposed to the sun, is where basal cell carcinoma tends to develop most frequently.

Etiology

  • Radiation exposure,
  • Gene mutation,
  • Arsenic exposure through ingestion,
  • Immunosuppression,
  • Xeroderma pigmentosum,
  • Previous nonmelanoma skin cancer,
  • Alcohol consumption.

Symptoms:

Basal cell carcinomas usually develop on sun-exposed parts of your body, especially your head and neck. A much smaller number occur on the trunk and legs. Yet basal cell carcinomas can also occur on parts of your body that are rarely exposed to sunlight.

Although a general warning sign of skin cancer is a sore that won't heal or that repeatedly bleeds and scabs over, basal cell cancer may also appear as:

  • A pearly white or waxy bump, often with visible blood vessels, on your face, ears or neck. The bump may bleed and develop a crust. In darker skinned people, this type of cancer may be brown or black.
  • A flat, scaly, brown or flesh-colored patch on your back or chest. Over time, these patches can grow quite large.
  • More rarely, a white, waxy scar. This type of basal cell carcinoma is easy to overlook, but it may be a sign of a particularly invasive and disfiguring cancer called morphea form basal cell carcinoma.

 Nursing Management

  • Keep a record of the patient's history of burns, burn sites, and scars.
  • Establish the patient's radiation exposure history, and be careful to inquire about the patient's employment history.
  • Look for deviations from typical skin characteristics in the patient's color, texture, turgor, and pigmentation.
  • Encourage thorough grooming to support the patient's sense of self-worth and body image.
  • By allowing the patient to participate in decision-making, you can accept their appearance and cultivate a positive self-image.
  • Encourage the patient to express their worries and fears out loud, respond to any inquiries, and provide reassurance when necessary.

 

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