Basal Cell Carcinoma’s are abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin’s basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). BCCs often look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars and are usually caused by a combination of cumulative and intense, occasional sun exposure.
Both long-term sun exposure over your lifetime and occasional extended, intense exposure (typically leading to sunburn) combine to cause damage that can lead to BCC. Almost all BCCs occur on parts of the body excessively exposed to the sun — especially the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders, and back.
On rare occasions, however, tumors develop on unexposed areas. In a few cases, contact with arsenic, exposure to radiation, open sores that resist healing, chronic inflammatory skin conditions, and complications of burns, scars, infections, vaccinations, or even tattoos are contributing factors.
It is not possible to pinpoint a precise, single cause for a specific tumor, especially one found on a sun-protected area of the body or in an extremely young individual.
Skin cancer (non-melanoma) |
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| Causes grouped by strength of evidence | ||
| Strong | Good | Limited |
| arsenic | aromatic amines | acrylamide |
| benzo(a)pyrene | arsenical pesticides | vinyl chloride |
| coal tars | benz(a)anthracene | |
| ionizing radiation | creosotes | |
| mineral oils | dibenz(a,h)anthracene | |
| shale oils | dimethyl benzanthracene | |
| UV radiation | ethylene oxide | |
| methylcholanthrene | ||
| oryzalin | ||
| PAHs | ||
| pesticides | ||
We are aware of a number of current & former Air Corps technicians who have developed Basal Cell Carcinoma. It is interesting to note that there is good evidence to link creosotes with Basal Cell Carcinoma. Creosotes are a component chemical of Ardrox 666.
However, Basal Cell Carcinoma is a very common cancer and so the occurrence may not be unusual.
Key point as with almost all of the illnesses suffered by Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors is of course vigilance. Don’t delay going to your doctor.