Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Your dermatologist will recommend a treatment depending on the results of your biopsy, including the location and size of the BCC.
The treatments for BCC Cancer may include:

Excision

This is usually a simple surgical procedure taking around 30-45 minutes. The affected area is firstly numbed with local anaesthetic, then the tumour is delineated with a skin marker and a margin of normal appearing skin around the tumour is also marked ou

Curettage and Cautery

This is a quick treatment which can only be considered for the superficial subtype of BCC, ie. BCC thought to exist only on the upper, epidermal layer of the skin. Local anaesthetic is injected around the lesion then an instrument called a curette is used

Treatment Success

The aim of any cancer treatment is to leave the patient with a minimum amount of cosmetic damage, while ensuring the cancer has been completely removed.

Early detection and treatment can make all the difference, and also result in a lower incidence of the cancer returning.

With such a variety of treatments currently available, it is worth noting that some treatments have higher cure rates and better cosmetic outcomes than other treatments.

Expectations After Treatment

Most people will experience bruising and swelling after surgery, however this will depend on the extent of the surgery you have undergone. Bruising and swelling would usually dissipate after 1 - 2 weeks. At least one postoperative visit would normally be required to assess wound healing and perform suture removal where appropriate.

We highly recommend visiting with your dermatologist to ensure correct healing of the area, while also checking the scar for any signs of recurrence. Your dermatologist will advise you if there is a need for this.