White skin cancer
and Martina Feichter, medical editor and biologistDr. med. Fabian Sinowatz is a freelancer in the medical editorial team.
More about the expertsMartina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.
White skin cancer (light skin cancer) is the most common form of skin cancer. The term encompasses two different forms of cancer: basal cell carcinoma (basal cell cancer) and spinal cell carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma). Both grow relatively slowly and rarely form daughter settlements (metastases). Nevertheless, white skin cancer must be taken seriously and treated as early as possible. Read everything you need to know about the topic!
ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. C44
White skin cancer: most common type of skin cancer
Black skin cancer (malignant melanoma) is the most dangerous form of malignant skin tumors. However, "white skin cancer" is much more common: basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. In 2016, around 230,000 people in Germany were newly diagnosed with white skin cancer. For 2020, experts from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) forecast 265,000 new cases (120,000 in women and 145,000 in men).
Basal cell cancer accounts for around three quarters of all white skin cancer cases. This makes it by far the most common form of skin cancer.
The incidence of both black and white skin cancer has risen sharply in recent years.
White skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma (basal cell cancer, old name: basalioma) develops from cells of the so-called basal cell layer of the skin and the root sheaths of the hair follicles. It can develop all over the body. However, 70 to 80 percent of all basal cell carcinomas occur in the head and neck area. The "sun terraces" such as the nose, lips or forehead are particularly often affected. Basal cell carcinomas also often develop on the neck and hands, and less often on the legs.
Basal cell cancer is almost equally common in women and men. Most of the patients are in their 60s. For some time now, however, this cancer has also increasingly appeared at a younger age.
Basal cell cancer: symptoms
Basal cell cancer is very diverse. It usually develops in the form of initially waxy, skin-colored to reddish nodular tumors. These often form a bead-like edge and can bleed every now and then. This common form of white skin cancer is called nodular basal cell cancer. But there are other manifestations. Some look more like scar tissue or are pigmented red or dark.
It is important to know: Basal cell carcinoma has no precursor (precancerosis). The first signs are a cancerous tumor that needs to be removed.
Most patients (80 percent) have basal cell carcinomas on the so-called sun terraces - on the face between the hairline and upper lip. However, other parts of the body can also be affected, for example the auricle, lower lip, hairy scalp or - less often - the trunk and extremities.
Read more about the appearance and location of basal cell carcinoma under Skin Cancer: Symptoms.
Basal cell carcinoma: treatment
Basal cell cancer is usually operated on. The surgeon tries to remove the tumor completely, along with a seam of healthy tissue.
In some cases, surgery is not possible, for example because the tumor is too large or extends too deep into the tissue. Other forms of therapy are then used as an alternative, for example radiation (radiation therapy). So-called cryosurgery (cryotherapy) is also possible. The tumor is frozen with liquid nitrogen.
Sometimes doctors choose treatment with the active ingredient imiquimod for large, superficial basal cell cancer - especially when surgery is not possible. Imiquimod is what is known as an immunomodulator, which stimulates the immune system's defense against tumor cells. It is applied as a cream several times a week for six weeks.
Another option for this type of white skin cancer is a special light treatment - photodynamic therapy: The cancer tumor is first made more light-sensitive with a special ointment and then irradiated with intense light.
You can read more about these and other therapies for basal cell cancer under Skin Cancer: Treatment.
Basal cell carcinoma: chances of recovery
Basal cell carcinoma only very rarely forms daughter settlements (metastases). Doctors therefore also refer to this type of white skin cancer as "semi-malignant" (semi-malignant). If diagnosed in good time, basal cell cancer is curable in the vast majority of cases (up to 95 percent). Surgery is the most promising form of treatment. Basal cell cancer deaths are very rare (about one in 1,000 patients).
After completing treatment, patients should have regular check-ups (follow-up care). More than four out of ten people affected develop further basal cell carcinomas within the first three years after the initial diagnosis. The attending physician individually determines the intervals at which a patient should come for a check-up.As far as the duration of follow-up care is concerned, experts currently recommend not restricting it in time.
Basal cell carcinoma: prevention
If you want to prevent this type of white skin cancer, you should first and foremost protect the skin from too much UV light. Basal cell cancer, like spinal cell cancer, is mainly caused by excessive UV exposure of the skin (sun, solarium). White skin cancer of both types can therefore be prevented primarily through consistent UV protection: Avoid direct sunlight (especially at noon). Also protect your skin with suitable sun protection creams and textiles. Especially people with fair skin types should adhere to this as they are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.
In addition to UV light, a genetic predisposition and some hereditary diseases can also promote the development of basal cell cancer. Prevention is not possible here. Various substances and chemicals such as arsenic are another risk factor. This should be avoided if possible to prevent basal cell carcinoma.
White skin cancer: spinalioma
Spinalioma (squamous cell cancer) is the second most common form of skin cancer with around 98,000 new cases per year. Men are affected slightly more often than women. On average, the patients are around 70 years old.
Squamous cell carcinoma is not easy to spot: it often manifests itself as a scaly, reddened or brownish-yellowish skin change. In other cases, it shows up as a scabbed or crusted sore that sometimes bleeds. This form of white skin cancer usually forms in areas that are or have been exposed to intense UV radiation. These include, for example, the nose, edge of the ear, forehead, neck and back of the hand.
Spinalioma-type white skin cancer grows quite aggressively. If left untreated, it gradually destroys surrounding tissue. In the advanced stage, a spinalioma can form daughter settlements (metastastes) in other parts of the body. Early treatment is therefore even more important here than with basal cell carcinoma.
You can read more about this type of skin cancer in the article Post squamous cell carcinoma.
Tags: eyes tcm palliative medicine
