What follow-up care is necessary for patients who have undergone treatment for BCC to monitor for recurrence?

Follow-up care for patients treated for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) primarily involves clinical skin examinations to monitor for recurrence and new primary skin cancers. Regular full skin examinations should be conducted by healthcare professionals skilled in skin cancer assessment, including the use of dermoscopy and medical photography where available.

Patients should be educated and advised on self-examination of their skin to detect any new or changing lesions early. Health promotion advice should include sun protection measures and smoking cessation to reduce risk factors for skin cancer recurrence.

Routine imaging or blood tests are generally not required for BCC follow-up unless there are specific clinical concerns or high-risk features.

Follow-up intervals and duration should be personalised based on the patient’s risk factors, such as the size, location, and histological subtype of the original BCC, and any history of multiple skin cancers.

Patients should be provided with direct contact details for specialist skin cancer services to report any concerns promptly.