Skin Cancer Hiding in Plain Sight
- Michelle Davis, 52, was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma after she found a spot on her nose that she thought was a pimple.
- She decided to get it checked out after it became “really sore” and bled.
- Basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, is the most common type of skin cancer with an estimated 3.6 million cases of BCC diagnosed in the United States every year.
- BCC can cause lumps, bumps, pimples, scabs or scaly lesions on your skin that can be mistaken as benign pimples or skin tags.
- We can get sun damage at any time throughout the year, so it’s always important to use skin protection techniques.
- One of our experts says it’s important to choose a sunscreen that’s appropriate for the activities you’re doing.
Davis had a lump on her nose that “was really hard like a volcano under the skin.” Her girlfriend pointed it out, but she just thought it was an ordinary pimple.
Read More"I remember squeezing it and nothing coming out,” she said. “Then it bled and bled and bled for like a week."
After a trip to her doctor in February 2023 and a biopsy, Davis was diagnosed with a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. She underwent an intense surgery for treatment.
"They cut up my nose in a zig-zag. They cut out a crater. There was a hole in the end of my nose,” she said. “They then bring the skin down to cover it.
“My nostrils are different shapes because they stretched the skin. The scar tissue is hard. The nerves are numb.”
Davis is “still healing” from her surgery, but she is doing well. She’s now prioritizing yearly check-ups for skin cancer and entering the dating world as a single woman with a whole new perspective on life.
"It's been quite empowering, it's only skin deep,” she said. "It's what's on the inside that counts."
What Is Michelle Davis’ Type of Skin Cancer
Basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, is known to be the most common type of skin cancer with an estimated 3.6 million cases of BCC diagnosed in the United States every year.
Treatment options for the disease include electrodesiccation and curettage, surgery, cryotherapy or cryosurgery, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and laser therapy, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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BCC develops when one of the three main types of cells in the top layer of the skin called basal cells grow abnormally or uncontrollably. It tends to grow slowly, but untreated BCC lesions can grow and become dangerous and disfiguring.
"Untreated BCCs can become locally invasive, grow wide and deep into the skin and destroy skin, tissue and bone," the Skin Cancer Foundation website reads. "The longer you wait to get treatment, the more likely it is that the BCC will recur, sometimes repeatedly.
"There are some highly unusual, aggressive cases when BCC spreads to other parts of the body. In even rarer instances, this type of BCC can become life-threatening."
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In other words, BCCs rarely spread beyond the original tumor site but have the potential to become life-threatening. That's why it’s important to catch and treat BCC as early as possible.
This can be difficult to do, however, because BCC can often be mistaken for a pimple or skin tag like in the case of Michelle Davis.
Basal cell carcinoma tends to form on areas of the body that receive sun exposure, but it’s crucial to note that skin cancer can happen anywhere on the body.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, signs of basal cell carcinoma include lumps, bumps, pimples, scabs or scaly lesions on your skin. The non-profit academic medical center also notes that a BCC lump:
- can be slightly translucent (see-through) and similar to your normal skin color or white to pink, brown to black or black to blue.
- may appear shinier than nearby skin with tiny visible blood vessels.
- can grow slowly over time.
- may be painful or itchy.
- can form an ulcer that may ooze clear fluid or bleed with contact.
If you ever spot a mark on your skin that seems unusual for you, promptly bring it up with your doctor.
BCC can vary from person to person, so it's always a good idea to pay attention to your skin, confront your doctor about anything questionable and prioritize regular checkups with a dermatologist.
Is Skin Protection Needed Year Round?
With the warmer months approaching, you might hear more people talk about people using sunscreen and other skin protection techniques. But know that it’s a common myth to say skin cancer protection is only needed on a seasonal basis.
Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use it Often
"My patients ask me all the time, 'Do I really need sunscreen every day, all year round?' The answer is yes," Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, told SurvivorNet.
"People think they only need sun protection when they're in the bright, warm sunshine.
“But the reality is, we can get sun damage at any time throughout the year, even in the cold, wintry months. Think about when you go skiing. That's a very high risk. Even though it's cold, our skin should be protected.”
Dr. Engelman says if we’re unprotected for even just 15 minutes a day, the cumulative effects on our skin over a lifetime can be “very real.” She says sunscreen should be a part of your everyday routine.
“The reality is, the sun can damage us even in incidental exposure,” she said. “The more we [wear sunscreen], the more we're protected, the more our risk is limited.”
"I just tell patients, 'Make it part of your daily routine. Just like you brush your teeth, you should be reaching for sunscreen every day.'"
Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?
While using sunscreen consistently is important, it’s also prudent to use it wisely.
Dermatologist Dr. Snehal Amin, the co-founder and surgical director of MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, say people should try to find the right sunscreen to use based on their needs and activities.
"If you want to engage in outdoor activities, which is great for your health and is really a lot of fun, it's important to make sure you don't also get a sunburn," Dr. Amin said.
"Now if you're like me, and you like to surf or windsurf or ski or anything like that, most of those activities can't be done in 20 minutes, so you have to wear the right protection for those activities.
"When I go skiing, always make sure you've got the zinc oxide paste on your nose. When I go surfing, always make sure you have the long-sleeved surf shirt, because really you can't apply that much sunscreen over and over again to your body."
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