Post Responses
Dariela Contreras Espinal
I agree with the author that the potential underlying condition is Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). The post highlights several factors supporting the diagnosis that I equally identified in my post, including the family history with atopic dermatitis, the dark lesion on the nose and the white wax coming from the lesion. Moreover, the post also highlights demographical factors, as the patient is above the age of 60, which makes him more vulnerable to skin cancers (Tanese, 2019). An interesting learning point from the post is the fact that BCC affects men more than women. However, the incidence rate among females has been gradually increasing over the years. Despite providing practical recommendations for reducing exposure to solar radiation, the post fails to provide a call to action for heightened awareness, prevention and treatment of BCC. Increased community awareness will be pivotal in reducing national healthcare expenses as BCC slowly develops into a global problem.
Reference
Tanese, K. (2019). Diagnosis and management of basal cell carcinoma. Current Treatment Options in Oncology, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-019-0610-0
Karla Feminello
The post provides a very detailed explanation of why the patient could be suffering from BCC and the methods for diagnosis and preventing the condition. While I do agree a skin biopsy is the main diagnostic technique for BCC, the author extends the information to highlight what the test should reveal. According to the post, the lesion’s depth and pigmentation is what is used to determine malignant melanoma (Hirakawa et al., 2022). The description begs the inquiry whether there are other more accurate diagnostic methods, specifically at the cellular level, under a microscope. An interesting learning point in the post is the need for UV protection all-year round instead of in summer and spring alone. I also appreciate how the post details the types of sunscreen lotion that people use. There is growing research highlighting the negative implications of manufactured skin lotions, including the increased risk of skin cancers.
Reference
Hirakawa, Ishikura, Y., Futatsuya, T., Yamaguchi, R., & Shimizu, A. (2022). Polypoid basal cell carcinoma on the nose tip. Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine, 2022, 1–5