Basal cell carcinoma symptoms usually take the form of suspicious looking bumps on the skin. These bumps are usually located on the face, neck, or head, but in some cases they may turn up on other parts of the body. Basal cell carcinoma bumps are most often white in color, but may appear to be darker in people who have dark skin. Blood vessels might be visible inside the bump, and it will usually bleed and take a long time to heal. Even after the bump heals, it may begin to start oozing fluid again.
Other basal cell carcinoma symptoms that may be noticed are slightly raised, fleshy patches with a rough texture. These patches usually become larger over time, and in some cases might grow to cover an area as large as 6 inches (15 cm). Some people with basal cell carcinoma symptoms may also notice long, whitish colored scars on their skin. These scars are particularly concerning because they are not very noticeable and could be a sign of morpheaform, which is a very severe type of basal cell carcinoma.
The causes of basal cell carcinoma typically relate to genetic and environmental factors. People who spend lots of time out in the sun or who have had radiation therapy on a regular basis at some point in their lives may be at greater risk for developing this type of skin cancer. There are also some diseases that can be inherited that make a person more susceptible to basal cell carcinoma. Bazex's syndrome, which is an inherited disease that results in little sweating or body hair, usually makes a person more prone to basal cell carcinoma. Some people also have xeroderma pigmentosum, which is a rare disorder that causes a person to be very sensitive to sunlight and increases his or her chances of developing skin cancer when exposed to sun.
A person who has any possible basal cell carcinoma symptoms should talk to a doctor right away. The longer the cancer is allowed to form, the harder it may be to get rid of. Basal cell carcinoma may look very similar to other types of sores, and for this reason it could be very hard for a person to know for sure if he or she has it. Doctors will typically perform a biopsy on the bump or lesion and examine it under a microscope to determine whether or not it is basal cell carcinoma. If it is basal cell carcinoma, the doctor will probably remove the entire bump surgically and schedule a few follow-up visits to be sure the cancer doesn't try to return.