Acne on the face develops skin cancer after 15 years

Hanoi Mrs. Kim, 83 years old, had skin cancer from a pimple on her face for 15 years. The doctor prescribed surgery to completely remove the cancer.

MSc.BS.CK II Tran Thai Son, Department of General Surgery, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, noted the lesion was about 1 cm, evenly round, slightly protruding on the bridge of the patient's nose, without ulceration or itching or pain. Pathology results showed nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

According to Dr. Son, Ms. Kim's tumor is getting bigger, causing discomfort and loss of aesthetics. Advanced tumors may require invasive surgery and more complex reconstruction. The doctor prescribed Mohs surgery to help eradicate the cancer, preserve maximum healthy tissue and aesthetics for Ms. Kim.

"This method is currently the gold standard in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma, less invasive than conventional tumor removal surgery, and patients recover quickly," Dr. Son explained.

The patient received endotracheal anesthesia and surgery to remove the tumor and a portion of surrounding tissue for immediate biopsy. The biopsy results showed that there were still cancer cells. The doctor cut a small amount of surrounding tissue and repeated until the entire cut area was free of cancer cells. Unlike traditional tumor removal surgery that only cuts once, the Mohs technique requires removing all tumors and preserving the skin on the patient's face with high precision.

After determining that there were no cancer cells left, the doctor transferred the adjacent skin flap to cover and reconstruct the bridge of Ms. Kim's nose, sewing to hide the scars along the natural skin lines and wrinkles on her face. Postoperatively, the patient recovered well, was discharged from the hospital after three days and was re-examined after two weeks.

To prevent skin cancer, doctors advise people to limit sun exposure, especially at noon and early afternoon. Eating scientifically and healthily contributes to increasing resistance to cancer.

Elderly people should have annual health check-ups and cancer screening as prescribed by their doctor. When there are unusual signs on the skin, patients should go to the doctor for timely examination and treatment.

Thanh Long

*Patient's name has been changed