It's difficult to determine the exact number of cases of stage 4 basal cell carcinoma because the disease may be diagnosed and treated before it's progressed to stage 4. Basal cell carcinoma tends to grow slowly and not spread to other parts of the body. In general, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer. It's estimated that in the United States, some 2.8 million people develop basal cell carcinoma annually.
Stage 4 Basal Cell Carcinoma
Stage 4 basal cell carcinoma is the fifth and final phase of development of the most common type of skin cancer, so it's the most serious stage. Because it is typically caused by exposure to the sun, it often develops on the parts of your skin that are most exposed to sunlight, particularly on the face near the eyes, ears and jaw. The most important way to prevent basal cell carcinoma from advancing to stage 4 is by treating earlier stages as soon as you're diagnosed.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
Stage 4 basal cell carcinoma is the fifth and final stage of development of the most common type of skin cancer. Stage 4 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 4 basal cell carcinoma are usually small red bumps that often form on the skin of the head and neck of older people. By the time it reaches stage 4, basal cell carcinoma has begun to spread past the skin into surrounding tissue and, in some cases, to distant organs throughout the body.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
Stage 4 basal cell carcinoma is caused when earlier stages of basal cell carcinoma advance. 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 that build up over time and eventually form a tumor. When these tumors are left untreated, the cancerous cells begin to invade nearby tissue and eventually spread throughout the body. 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 4 basal cell carcinoma in some people.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
The main symptoms of stage 4 basal cell carcinoma are skin growths that develop on areas of sun-exposed skin, like the head and neck. In many stage 4 basal cell carcinomas, the tumors are found on the face, particularly near the eyes, ears, and jaw. Often, stage 4 basal cell carcinomas start out slowly as little red or white shiny bumps that gradually grow wider and deeper. The tumors generally grow slowly, so they may not be noticeable or alarming. Sometimes, stage 4 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 4 basal cell carcinomas may also have visible blood vessels around the growths, especially when they're on the face.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
Stage 4 basal cell carcinoma starts in the bottom part of the skin's top layer. An overgrowth of skin cells eventually builds up and forms a tumor. Stage 4 basal cell carcinoma tumors usually begin as 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 4, these tumors are often found on the face and neck, but they can be found almost anywhere. While in stage 4, basal cell carcinomas have often spread deeper into the lower layers of skin and have begun to affect surrounding tissue, including bone. At this point, the cancer may also have begun to spread to lymph nodes and other organs.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
There are several factors, both environmental and genetic, that may increase your risk for stage 4 basal cell carcinoma. The most significant risk factor is being diagnosed with an earlier stage of basal cell carcinoma and leaving it untreated. Another important risk factor seems to be too much sun exposure, especially when it's built up 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 4 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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Parkland Medical Center answered
Usually, diagnosing stage 4 basal cell carcinoma begins with a physical exam that includes a visual inspection 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 earlier stages where the growth is still small, it can be biopsied by simply shaving off the skin's top layers. However, for most stage 4 basal cell carcinoma, the tumor is larger and deeper so doctors may choose to surgically remove part or all of the growth.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
If you notice symptoms that may be caused by stage 4 basal cell carcinoma, you should talk to your doctor right away. Symptoms may include a sore on your face or neck that bleeds easily or scabs and oozes. In stage 4, basal cell carcinomas may be small white or red bumps, or they can be flat brown patches. Usually, growths in stage 4 are bigger ? they're usually greater than 2 centimeters in diameter. At this stage, they're also starting to spread deeper into the skin and into surrounding bone, tissue, and organs, even though you can't see it. Because stage 4 basal cell carcinomas are already spreading, you should see a doctor as soon as you notice symptoms.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
There are a variety of treatment options for stage 4 basal cell carcinoma. A common option for treating stage 4 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. Another possible treatment for stage 4 basal cell carcinoma 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, but it's usually used only on smaller tumors. If stage 4 basal cell carcinoma has spread to nearby bone, lymph nodes, or organs, doctors may recommend radiation therapy. Since treatment for stage 4 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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Parkland Medical Center answered
Usually, medications aren't the first treatment option for stage 4 basal cell carcinoma. Instead, the tumor is usually surgically removed from the skin, or it may be treated with doses of high-energy radiation. If medication is used, it's usually in topical form. These treatments are applied to the skin, and they use chemotherapy drugs that contain strong chemicals that work to kill cancerous cells. However, these medications are usually used for only very superficial tumors, and by the time basal cell carcinoma reaches stage 4, the cancer has often spread too far for this to be an option.