It's difficult to determine the exact number of cases of stage 3 basal cell carcinoma because the disease may not be diagnosed until later, or it might be diagnosed and treated before it's progressed to stage 3. Basal cell carcinoma tends to grow slowly and not spread to other parts of the body. Also, basal cell carcinoma often isn't assigned a stage unless the tumors have spread significantly. In general, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer. It's estimated that in the United States, 2.8 million people will develop basal cell carcinoma annually.
Stage 3 Basal Cell Carcinoma
Stage 3 basal cell carcinoma is caused when earlier stages of basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, advances. Symptoms may include a sore on your face or neck that bleeds easily or scabs and oozes. There's no guaranteed cure for stage 3 basal cell carcinoma, but treatments for the condition are usually effective. Depending on the location of the tumor, treatment may include electrodesiccation and curettage or surgery (including Mohs surgery) to remove the tumor. If you notice symptoms that may be caused by stage 3 basal cell carcinoma, you should talk to your doctor.
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Sigma Nursing answeredStage 3 basal cell carcinoma is the fourth stage of development of the most common type of skin cancer. Stage 3 basal cell carcinoma is usually caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, so it often develops on areas of skin that are exposed to the sun. The tumors caused by stage 3 basal cell carcinoma are usually small, slow-growing red bumps that often form on the skin of the head and neck of older people. By the time it reaches stage 3, basal cell carcinoma has begun to spread past the skin into surrounding tissue.
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Sigma Nursing answered
Stage 3 basal cell carcinoma is caused when earlier stages of basal cell carcinoma advances. Initially, basal cell carcinoma is caused by problems with certain skin cells. Normally, DNA controls the growth cycle of cells in the skin, causing new cells to replace older cells at a regular pace. However, when the DNA is damaged, it causes an overgrowth of skin cells. These cells build up over time and eventually form a tumor. The most common way that the DNA is damaged is by a lot of sun exposure over the years, although other factors like exposure to toxic chemicals and certain genetic disorders may also lead to stage 3 basal cell carcinoma in some people.
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The main symptoms of stage 3 basal cell carcinoma are skin growths that develop on areas of sun-exposed skin, like the head and neck. In many stage 3 basal cell carcinomas, the tumors are found on the face, particularly near the eyes, ears, and jaw. Often, stage 3 basal cell carcinomas start out slowly as little red or white shiny bumps that gradually grow wider and deeper. The tumors generally grow very slowly, so they're sometimes not easily noticeable. Sometimes, stage 3 basal cell carcinomas will alternate between scabbing and bleeding, which makes people think they're just a sore. Other times, the growths will form flat scaly patches that may be brown or red. Stage 3 basal cell carcinomas may also have visible blood vessels around the growths, especially when they're on the face.
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Sigma Nursing answered
Stage 3 basal cell carcinoma starts in the bottom part of the epidermis, which is the skin's top layer. An overgrowth of skin cells eventually builds up and forms a tumor. Stage 3 basal cell carcinoma tumors are usually small, shiny growths that may bleed easily, or scab and crust. Tumors, which can be any size but are often over 2 centimeters in diameter at this stage, usually form on areas of sun-exposed skin. In stage 3, these tumors are often found on the face and neck. While in stage 3, basal cell carcinomas may spread deeper into the lower layers of skin, may be thicker than 2 millimeters, and may begin to take over tiny nerves in the skin. At this point, the cancer may also have begun to spread to a nearby lymph node. If left untreated, these tumors will continue to spread into the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.
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Sigma Nursing answered
There are several factors, both environmental and genetic, that may increase your risk for stage 3 basal cell carcinoma. The most significant risk factor is having stage 0, stage 1, or stage 2 basal cell carcinoma and leaving it untreated. Another important risk factor seems to be too much sun exposure, especially when it's over an entire lifetime. If you have light hair and skin, your risk may also be increased since your skin has less pigment to protect from UV rays. Your age and sex may also influence your risk - if you are a male and if you're over 50, you're at a higher risk for developing stage 3 basal cell carcinoma. Other risk factors may include a family or personal history of skin cancer, certain inherited genetic conditions, and exposure to certain toxic chemicals.
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Sigma Nursing answered
Usually, diagnosing stage 3 basal cell carcinoma begins with a physical exam that includes a visual examination of the tumor and a review of your medical history. To confirm diagnosis, doctors will do a biopsy, which involves removing all or part of the growth and analyzing it under a microscope. In some cases, if the growth is still small, it can be biopsied by simply shaving off the skin's top layers. However, for most stage 3 basal cell carcinoma, the tumor is larger or deeper so doctors may choose to surgically remove part or all of the growth.
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Sigma Nursing answered
If you notice symptoms that may be caused by stage 3 basal cell carcinoma, you should talk to your doctor. Symptoms may include a sore on your face or neck that bleeds easily or scabs and oozes. In stage 3, basal cell carcinomas may just be small white or red bumps, or they can be flat brown patches. Usually, growths in stage 3 are starting to get bigger - they can often be greater than 2 centimeters in diameter. They're also starting to spread deeper into the skin and into surrounding bone tissue and lymph nodes, even though you can't see it. Because stage 3 basal cell carcinomas have already begun to spread, it's a good idea to see a doctor as soon as you notice symptoms so that you can diagnose and treat the cancer as early as possible.
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There are a variety of treatment options for stage 3 basal cell carcinoma. The most common treatment for new tumors is electrodesiccation and curettage (ED and C). This procedure involves scraping off the top layer of the tumor and then burning the tumor's base with an electric needle. Another common option for treating stage 3 basal cell carcinoma is surgical removal of the tumor and a small amount of surrounding skin. One specific procedure that may be an option is Mohs microscopically controlled surgery, in which doctors remove one layer of the tumor at a time and examine it for cancerous cells as they go. This way, the doctor removes as little skin as possible while still getting rid of all the cancer. If these types of surgery aren't an option, cryosurgery (using liquid nitrogen to freeze the tumors) or topical chemotherapy treatments may be used. If stage 3 basal cell carcinoma has begun to spread to nearby bone or lymph nodes, doctors may recommend radiation therapy. Since treatment for stage 3 basal cell carcinoma depends on the location of the tumor and the health of the person, it's important to talk to your doctor about finding the best treatment option for you.
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Sigma Nursing answered
Usually, medications aren't the first treatment option for stage 3 basal cell carcinoma. Instead, the tumor is usually scraped and burnt off (electrodesiccation and curettage), or it's surgically cut out of the skin. If medication is used, it's usually in topical form. These treatments usually use chemotherapy drugs that are applied to the skin. The strong chemicals in those drugs work to kill cancerous cells in the top layers of the skin. However, these medications are still being tested and often have negative side effects, so close medical supervision is required.