what is basal cell melanoma?

Question

Is this disease contagious?
How is it treated?
What is the appearance

Answer 1

The answers below seem to cover everything quite well. BCC is really not classed as a cancer as it can very rarely spread to other areas, problems arise with local spread, and that as it appears mainly in the elderley, they are more likely to leave them and not worry about cosmetic results. They are treated with surgery, including moh's and occassionally with cryotherapy. Radiotherapy is also quite commonly used.

Melanoma, in all it's types is serious, but as with all cancers, much more treatable if caught early. Breslow thickness, ie the thickness of the tumour, and clarkes level are the biggest factors here. A melanoma requires removal with a clinical margin of 1cm around the melanoma itself, which can leave quite a large scar.

For the other poster, melanoma is not the most deadly skin cancer, that dubious honour would go to the Merkel Cell Carcinoma, quite rare, but very deadly.

Answer 2

Basal cell carcinoma and Melanoma are two different types of skin cancer - the first is more common and easier to treat, the latter is rare, but deadly. check out:
http://www.melanoma.com/skin_cancer.html
definitely neither is contagious

Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer in fair-skinned people. It usually shows up on the face, ears, scalp, neck, or upper body. This type of cancer can appear as:
a red patch
a pink, red, or white bump that is shiny or pearly
a crusty, open sore that will not heal
a scar-like area

Basal cell carcinoma may have slightly raised edges with a crusty, indented center. This type of skin cancer grows very slowly and usually does not spread to other parts of the body. It is usually treated by removing the tumor (with surgery) or by freezing the tumor (cryotherapy).

Melanoma
Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, but is the most serious. It begins in the melanocytes. These are the skin cells that make the pigment called melanin, which gives skin its color. Melanoma can quickly spread to other parts of the body so it is important to detect and treat melanoma in its early stages. Melanoma is the leading cause of all skin cancer-related deaths.

Answer 3

Basal cell carcinoma and melanoma are two different types of skin cancer. They cannot be passed from one person to another, and therefore are not contagious.
Basal cell carcinoma arises from basal cells in the skin. These cancers usually occur on the exposed portions of the skin like the scalp, ears and face. They are usually slow growing and painless. They may be pigmented. They are usually caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (like sunlight). It is the most common type of skin cancer.
Melanoma is the more serious type of skin cancer. This arises from the melanocytes or pigment cells in the skin. Melanoma is more aggressive and can spread quickly. Although fewer people get melanoma than basal cells carcinoma, it is the more deadly of the two cancers.
Both cancers are treated by surgical removal of the tumor. Basal cell carcinoma usually do not require further treatment other than removal of the tumor. Melanoma may require chemotherapy if it has spread elsewhere in the body.
All skin cancers are diagnosed using the basic ABCD rules:
Asymmetry: One half of the abnormal area is different from the other half
Borders: The lesion or growth has irregular edges.
Color: Color changes from one area to another, with shades of tan, brown, or black (sometimes white, red, or blue). A mixture of colors may appear within one lesion.
Diameter: The trouble spot is usually (but not always) larger than 6 mm in diameter -- about the size of a pencil eraser.
If you suspect you have either of these conditions, you need to see a dermatologist right a way. They are experts in skin care and can determine whether you have basal cell carcinoma versus melanoma via a skin biopsy.
Treatment of either type of cancer is imperative.

Answer 4

It is not contagious. It is a form of skin cancer and can be cut out if caught quickly enough.

Answer 5

http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/basal_cell_carcino.html. It is not contagious. Surgery is required to remove the meanoma. That is it unless it is far along. See the link below.

Answer 6

Melanoma is a skin cancer.
It is not contagious
Has to be surgically removed.
Irregular borders. Discoloration,

Answer 7

its a form of skin cancer and no its not contagous