Eyelid cancer is a type of skin cancer that develops in the eyes. This type of cancer is also known by the name of basal cell carcinoma, or BCC. BUt will eyelid cancer spread? Although this type of cancer is to be taken as seriously as any other type of cancer, there is one element of this disease that acts in a patient’s favor: it’s highly unlikely to spread to other parts of the body.
Will Eyelid Cancer Spread?
The more informed you are, the better off you are, especially when concerned with serious diseases like cancer. Following this, here is some information about this rare type of disease and your options for eyelid skin cancer treatment.
What Is Eyelid Cancer?
Eyelid cancer is, at its core, a type of skin cancer. As one might deduce, this type of cancer develops on one’s eyelids. Fortunately, part of the nature of this condition is that it is usually confined to where it develops and is unlikely to spread to other parts of the body.
Those who have fair skin or blue eyes are especially vulnerable to developing this type of cancer. Individuals who have sustained large amounts of sun exposure over the years are also very vulnerable to developing this condition. Those who have had this disease once in their life are especially vulnerable to developing it again later in life.
Depending on the severity of your condition, you may consult with multiple specialists regarding your operations and care.
Types of Eyelid Cancer
There are many different types of eyelid cancer, and knowing which one you have is essential to creating a competent and effective treatment plan. Some of the primary types of Eyelid Cancer include the following:
- Squamous cell carcinoma: This is a less common type of eyelid cancer, as well as the one that is most likely to spread beyond the eyelid.
- Merkel cell carcinoma: This is another rare type of eyelid cancer that can spread to other types of the body.
- Melanoma: Melanoma is a common type of skin cancer that can appear on the eyelids as well.
- Sebaceous carcinoma: This is a rare form of eyelid cancer that, more often than not, appears on the upper eyelid.
- Basal cell carcinoma: This is the most common type of eyelid cancer. BCCs occur on the lower eyelid most often.
Symptoms and Signs
There are several common symptoms of eyelid cancer that it pays to look out for as they develop. This can help you ensure that you catch this disease as it develops. Some of the following symptoms are commonly encountered:
- Strange changes to the appearance of your eyelids
- Swelling in the eyelids
- Lesions that are painful or that bleed on the eyes
- Lumps and bumps that appear on the eyelids, especially ones that seem to grow.
- Discoloration on the eyelids
Diagnosis and Treatment
Physicians typically diagnose eyelid cancer by performing a physical evaluation of the eye area. Dermatologists and ophthalmologists are the most common types of specialists who have the expertise to diagnose eyelid cancers and the like.
You may have a biopsy, which is a tissue sample, taken out of the eye or the lesion present. This is one of the most effective ways to confirm or rule out a cancer diagnosis. Biopsies can also help determine the exact type of eyelid cancer you’re suffering from. This in turn can help you and your physician determine the right course of treatment for your particular situation.
During treatment, your physician will consider the size and location of the tumor and the type of cancer at hand. The most common type of treatment is eyelid surgery of some sort, where the tumor is removed.
Once the tumor is removed, your physician will refer you to a plastic surgeon to help reconstruct your eyelid area in order to restore the appearance of this part of your body after the tumor is removed. One of the most common types of surgery used in this type of procedure is known as a Mohs micrographic surgery. In this type of procedure, a surgeon removes cancer cells one layer at a time, methodically removing the cancerous presence from the body. This treatment is useful for both reducing scarring and protecting the healthy tissue of this area of the body.
Your Best Choice for Issues of the Eyes
OC Oculoplastic is one of Orange County’s most trusted clinics for dealing with issues afflicting the eyes both large and small. If you’re worried about the health of your eyes and would like to schedule an appointment with a consummate professional, contact us today in order to start improving your health today with our Orange County eyelid surgeon.