Glossary Term:

Title

basal cell carcinoma

Phonetic

<b>bay</b>-sul or <b>bay</b>-zul sell <b>car</b>-sin-<b>O</b>-ma

Description

the most common type of skin cancer. It begins in the lowest layer of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin), called the basal cell layer. It usually develops on sun-exposed areas, especially the head and neck. Basal cell cancer grows slowly and is not likely to spread to distant parts of the body.