Lesion 3 - Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma

This is the third in a series of images aimed at raising awareness of skin cancer. We will present photographs of actual patients from Central Perth Skin Clinic who have been diagnosed with a skin cancer. In doing so, we hope that it will show various different skin cancers and how they can present. We will only publish photographs from patients who have provided consent.

Lesion 03 – Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

This spot was found on the chest of a 50 year old male on a routine skin check. It is a fairly classic Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) with some pigmentation present. This lesion was successfully treated here at Central Perth Skin Clinic.
BCC is the most common type of skin cancer in Australia. It is quite different to melanoma. BCCs are often slow growing and found on sun damaged skin, particularly on the head and neck. They usually present as a pink patch or lump on the skin that may have developed over weeks to months. They may have pigment in them as in the case of this lesion, and they can bleed easily or develop an ulcer on the surface. Sometimes they are very subtle and people are not aware of them until found during a skin check. Other times people think they are just a sore or pimple that isn’t healing up or is “coming and going”.

If you have anything like this on the skin then you should get it checked.