BCC vs SCC
What does it all mean?
BCC stands for Basal Cell Carcinoma.
SCC stands for Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Together these two types of skin cancer are called Keratinocyte Skin Cancer (or non-melanoma skin cancer). According to the Cancer Council these two types of skin cancer make up 99% of all skin cancers. Unlike melanoma, these two types are rarely life-threatening but are far more common.
Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC) are usually the least dangerous type of skin cancer and are almost always curable when treated. It's extremely rare for a BCC to spread to other parts of the body. However, if left untreated, BCCs won't just sit there — they will keep growing and can damage the surrounding skin and tissue over time. Occasionally they can grow along a nearby nerve, which makes treatment more complex.
They are generally caused by excessive sun exposure in the years prior to the skin cancer appearing.
What does it look like?
BCCs usually start with a subtle change on the skin. BCCs develop very slowly over months and years, steadily becoming larger and more obvious.
They can look like
a red or pearly lump
A sore that doesn’t heal or one that gets better and then comes back again
A sore that bleeds
A red, scaly patch
How are they treated?
The treatment of BCC’s are dependent on the type of BCC, the size and its location. For this reason a diagnostic biopsy may be done first. This will tell the type of BCC and will guide the doctor in the best type of treatment. More often than not, surgical excision is the go to treatment.
Now let’s talk about SCCs
Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC) are skin cancers that form in the outermost layer of skin and are mainly caused by long-term sun exposure. Over time, ultraviolet light (particularly UVA) can gradually trigger changes in your skin cells that lead to an SCC developing. That's why most SCCs show up on the parts of your body that get the most sun. People with a weakened immune system — for example, those who've had an organ transplant, or those with conditions like lymphoma — are more prone to developing multiple SCCs.
What does it look like?
An SCC can present itself in a few different ways
A raised scaly lump
A crusted sore that doesn’t heal
An ulcer
They can grow quite quickly (over a few weeks) or develop slowly over years.
How are they treated?
The treatment of SCCs is dependent on the type and its location. This is why a diagnostic biopsy is often done first. Treatment may include freezing the lesion (cryotherapy), scraping (also known as curettage and cautery), surgical excision and in some cases they may require radiotherapy.
Are you concerned about any spots on your body? Has it been more than 12 months since your last skin check? Give us a call on (08) 75579611 or head on over to our website https://www.gawlerbarossaskincancerclinic.com.au/ to book your appointment. There you can also read more about our Doctors and melanographer, see our pricing structure and read our other blog posts.
We can’t wait to meet you.
For more information on BCCs and SCCs, click on the link below
Comments