Q: My sister had a small blister on her nose for the past around six months. It was growing and bled once too. The doctor decided to remove it and had sent the matter for biopsy. The biopsy report says that she has basal cell carcinoma. The doctor suggested a second operation but I feel radiotherapy maybe good enough. Is this a serious problem and what is the course of action?

A:This is not a serious problem and is in general fully curable by an adequate operation. The use of radiation is reserved for those patients with lesions in areas that would produce disfigurement and thus negate surgery. As a general rule, surgery is the treatment of choice.