Test your knowledge by answering these sample questions about Basal Cell Carcinoma:
- Which of the following is NOT a diagnosis that should also be considered when evaluating a patient for BCC?.
a. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
b. Malignant melanoma
c. Multiple Myeloma
d. None of the above
2. A patient recovering from surgical removal of a BCC tumor asks her provider if he will test to find if the cancer has spread to her blood. What is the most appropriate answer?
a. BCC has a metastasis rate of less than 0.1% so there is no reason to suspect it has reached the bloodstream.
b. The type of tumor she had does not spread via the blood, therefore such a test is unnecessary.
c. If the tumor spread to her bloodstream, she would have symptoms such as fatigue and fever, which she will need to monitor for.
d. Though this type of tumor rarely spreads via the bloodstream, she will need to come back for a blood test in 3-5 weeks.
3. You are assessing a papule on a patient’s forehead. The lesion is 0.5 cm in diameter, elevated, waxy, hyperpigmented above the left eyebrow with some erosion, no erythema or scar-like properties. The patient reports that the papule occasionally bleeds when it rubs against his baseball cap. Which question is most important to ask the patient during the assessment?
a. How much sun exposure do you generally have between 9am and 2pm?
b. What does your typical diet consist of?
c. When was the last time you had blood work done?
d. How often and for how long do you exercise?
4. You are seeing a patient for the first time. The patient points out some hyper-pigmented papules on his forearm and tells you that his wife thinks he is at risk for skin cancer because he is a farmer and spends a lot of time outside. He then adds, “I’m not worried though. I never burn, even though I only wear sunscreen at the beach. Besides, I wear a hat when I’m outside all day.” The best response would be:
a. He probably is at low risk for skin cancer because he has a base tan most of the year.
b. He should try to do most of his work outdoors before 9am or after 3pm, to avoid the harshest UV rays.
c. He is probably at low risk because only his forearms and neck are exposed to strong UV rays daily.
d. Even people with dark skin are at risk for certain skin cancers, and it is important to be screened regularly as well as wear sunscreen when planning to be outside.
5. Your patient has been diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma and has a question about the disease. Which is an accurate statement regarding BCC?
A. Unlike Melanoma, BCC does not arise from inherited genetic mutations
B. BCC is most commonly found on the facial region
C. BCC is the least common skin cancer
D. BCC metastasizes quickly through the lymphatic system