MODEL RELEASED. Basal cell carcinoma surgery. Surgeon preparing a harvested piece of skin (centre) for suturing to an elderly man's nose following the excision of a basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The cancer had formed a growth on the bridge of the patient's nose and was excised under local anaesthetic. This piece of skin was harvested from the patient's cheek near the ear. Following the grafting, a dressing was placed on the nose for two weeks to allow the area to heal. This common form of skin cancer is most often caused by over-exposure to sunlight. It grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.