NEW CANCER DRUG FOR BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

This is another in Dr. Robert Brueck's blog posting as a Fort Myers plastic surgeon dealing with skin and cosmetic surgery issues.

The most frequent type of cancer in the common form of skin cancer is called basal cell carcinoma. This cancer is so common and it frequently increases with age.

It usually grows locally and is treated with surgery the majority of the time.

A new drug called Erivedge will be available to treat more advanced forms of basal cell in patients’ who are not candidates for surgery or radiation. It is also indicated in treating metastatic basal cell – that is a rare breed.

In 32 years I can recall maybe 1 or 2 cases. This is the first ever FDA drug approved for metastatic basal cell carcinoma.