How Serious is a Basal Cell Carcinoma

While Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is usually treatable, it can become serious if left unmanaged — this page outlines the potential risks and why expert care from a specialist like Mr. Tehrani is so important.

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How Serious Is a Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer, with over 100,000 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year. While most BCCs can be treated successfully, there are several potentially serious complications that make early diagnosis and specialist treatment important.

Mr. Tehrani regularly lectures to GPs and other specialists on the risks associated with BCCs.

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Potential Risks If Basal Cell Carcinoma Is Left Untreated

Why Early Diagnosis and Expert Care Matter

Although Basal Cell Carcinoma is typically slow-growing, it can cause serious complications if not diagnosed and treated early. Below are some of the key risks associated with untreated or advanced BCC, which Mr. Tehrani discusses regularly in lectures to GPs and specialists.

Tissue Destruction

BCCs grow slowly but continuously, expanding both across the surface of the skin and deeper into tissue.

As they enlarge, they destroy the surrounding skin and tissue, which must then be surgically removed.

This can be particularly serious in areas such as the nose, ears, lips, or eyelids, where vital tissue is more difficult to reconstruct.

In advanced cases, tissue loss may be irreversible.

Tumours near the eye may result in loss of vision or the eye itself.

If BCC invades bone, major surgery or radiotherapy may be required.

Risk of Death from BCC

Death from BCC is extremely rare.

BCCs very rarely spread to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, or lymph nodes.

Those that do are typically very large, long-neglected, or of the rare basosquamous type.

BCCs & Bleeding

BCCs can begin to bleed as they grow, which may be a minor nuisance at first.

Left untreated, bleeding can become continuous, in rare cases leading to significant blood loss.

Pain from BCCs

Most BCCs are painless, although they may itch or feel sore.

If they grow into nerves or sensitive areas (such as the eye), they may become painful.

Treatment may relieve the pain, but long-term discomfort is sometimes a result of advanced growth.

Infection with BCCs

BCCs are more often inflamed than truly infected.

If infection does occur, antibiotics may be required.

Severe infections can be difficult to manage in certain cases.

Scarring from BCCs

Removal of a BCC will leave a scar, particularly on the face.

In difficult areas, reconstruction may be challenging, potentially resulting in noticeable cosmetic changes.

This is why it is vital to have surgery performed by a qualified and experienced specialist like Mr. Tehrani.

Incomplete BCCs Excision

When a BCC is removed by traditional surgery, the tissue is sent to a lab for examination.

Sometimes the pathology report shows the BCC was not fully removed, meaning further treatment is required.

This can cause additional scarring and possible loss of important structures (e.g. parts of the nose or eyelid).

For this reason, Mohs surgery is often preferred, as slides are examined immediately during surgery to confirm full clearance.

Recurrence of BCCs

Even after removal, BCCs may return.

The recurrence rate is 5–10% with traditional surgery, but only around 1% with Mohs surgery.

This makes Mohs surgery a more reliable option for long-term success in certain cases.

Learn More About Mohs Surgery

Discover how Mohs Surgery offers the highest cure rates and precise removal for Basal Cell Carcinoma and other skin cancers.

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Learn More About Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for Basal Cell Carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer in the UK.

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Questions you may have about Mohs Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find answers to common questions about Mohs Surgery with Mr Tehrani.

What is Mohs surgery and how is it different from standard skin cancer surgery?

Mohs surgery removes skin cancer layer by layer while each layer is examined under a microscope. Unlike standard surgery, it allows for precise removal with minimal loss of healthy tissue, offering the highest cure rate for Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Why is Mohs surgery recommended for Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Mohs surgery is considered the gold standard for treating Basal Cell Carcinoma due to its 99% cure rate and ability to preserve surrounding healthy skin — especially important for facial or complex areas. Mr. Tehrani specialises in this technique.

Will I need separate appointments for removal and reconstruction?

In most clinics, yes — but Mr. Tehrani is dual-trained in both Mohs and Reconstructive Surgery, meaning he can often perform both the removal and reconstruction in the same appointment.

Is Mohs surgery painful or done under general anaesthetic?

Mohs surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic, making the area numb while you remain awake. General anaesthetic is only used in select cases depending on the patient and tumour location.

What happens if the cancer is not fully removed in one stage?

If any cancer cells are seen under the microscope, only the area where they remain is re-treated. This process is repeated until the skin is clear — ensuring complete removal with maximum tissue preservation.

Important information

Mr Tehrani is one of the UK’s leading Mohs and Reconstructive Surgeons, with a reputation for providing expert, patient-focused skin cancer care. If you have concerns about a skin lesion or are seeking specialist treatment, please get in touch — we’re here to help.

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