Basal Cell Carcinomas can grow slowly or quickly, but usually only locally.

Thank you for your question.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer and is due to recurrent sun exposure, but not related to the number of sunburns (although that definitely does contribute). A BCC tends to grow like the "roots of a tree". Usually it is slow growth, but what you see on the surface may not represent the entire tumor. The tumor can easily be growing underneath the skin and spreading, but you might not see most of it, and that's why you won't know how big the area taken out will be until the actual surgery.

To specifically answer your question, most BCCs will grow very slowly - usually only showing about 4-5mm of growth, plus or minus, every 6 months or so. But, it may be growing quicker underneath and that's what should be the main concern, especially in areas around the eyes, nose, and ears. You have had the BCC for 5 or more years, so it is very possible that a large area of tissue might have to be removed; only the surgery will tell.

I wish you the best of luck!

There's no clear cut answer to your question - how fast does basal cell cancer grow? In some people, it appears rather abruptly and grows quickly. In others, such as yourself, it may start out as a smaller cancer or pre-cancer (actinic keratosis) and grow slowly.

The important fact is that it will keep growing until it is removed, so be sure to have it taken it. Often times what is seen by the naked eye is just the tip of the iceberg. The sooner you get that out, the less damage there will be. Hopefully in the past 5 years your cancer has not spread too much to the surrounding area.

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