OverviewWhat is squamous cell carcinoma?Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma. It starts in squamous cells in the outer layer of your skin, the epidermis. Usually, squamous cell carcinomas form on areas of your skin that receive the most sun exposure like your head, arms and legs. Cancer can also form in areas of your body where you have mucous membranes, which are the inner lining of your organs and body cavities like in your mouth, lungs and anus. Show
What are the types of squamous cell carcinoma?There are different types of squamous cell carcinoma based on where and how much cancer is in your body:
Who does squamous cell carcinoma affect?Squamous cell carcinoma can affect anyone. You’re most at risk if you:
People assigned male at birth (AMAB) are about two times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma. People over the age of 50 are most likely to get SCCs, but the incidence has been rising in people younger than 50. How common is squamous cell carcinoma?Over 1 million people receive a squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis in the U.S. each year. The rate of SCC has risen about 200% over the past 30 years. Symptoms and CausesWhat are the symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma?Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma include skin changes like:
What are the signs of squamous cell carcinoma?There are cancerous bumps, marks or lesions that form on your skin that can be a sign of squamous cell carcinoma, including:
Where on my body can I get squamous cell carcinoma?You can have squamous cell carcinoma on any part of your body, but it’s most common on your:
What causes squamous cell carcinoma?A mutation to the p53 gene causes squamous cell carcinoma. The most common way that your p53 gene mutates is from ultraviolet (UV) exposure from the sun, or from using indoor tanning beds. The p53 gene provides instructions for your cells to divide and replicate to replace cells when they reach the end of their lifespan. Your p53 gene is a tumor suppressor, which means that the gene controls how much and how often your cells should create new cells. Too many cells create tumors, which can be cancerous. A mutation to the p53 gene means that your cells don’t have the instructions they need to do their job correctly. As a result, your squamous cells divide and replicate too often, causing tumors (bumps, lumps or lesions) to form in and on your body. Does squamous cell carcinoma spread?Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of your body (metastasize). If this does happen, it occurs slowly and can be life-threatening if left untreated. If you notice changes to your skin, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Diagnosis and TestsHow is squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed?Your healthcare provider will physically examine the area of your body where you have symptoms, looking specifically at the size, shape and location of the lump or lesion. Your healthcare provider will also ask questions to learn more about your medical history and your symptoms, which could include:
What tests diagnose squamous cell carcinoma?After your physical exam, your healthcare provider might offer tests to confirm a diagnosis, which could include:
What are the stages of squamous cell carcinoma?Your healthcare provider will assign a stage to your diagnosis to identify how much cancer is in your body. Stages help them choose the treatment that’s right for you. There are five stages of squamous cell carcinoma:
Management and TreatmentHow is squamous cell carcinoma treated?Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma focuses on removing cancer from your body. Your treatment options vary based on the size, shape and location of your cancer and could include:
What medications treat squamous cell carcinoma?If you have invasive squamous cell carcinoma or if treatment to remove your cancer surgically isn’t right for you, your healthcare provider could offer medicine to treat your diagnosis. Medicines could include:
What are the side effects of the treatments for squamous cell carcinoma?The most common side effect of squamous cell carcinoma treatment is cosmetic changes to your skin, like scarring, after your healthcare provider removes the cancer from your body. If you take immunotherapy drugs to treat your cancer, talk to your healthcare provider about the side effects of the drugs. How soon after treatment will I feel better?The amount of time your body needs to heal after treatment varies for each person. The size shape and location also affect your healing time after treatment. On average, most people will recover within two to four weeks after treatment to remove cancer from their body. Your healthcare provider will meet with you a few weeks after treatment to make sure your body is healing properly and to make sure treatment was successful at removing cancer. PreventionHow can I prevent squamous cell carcinoma?While you can’t prevent all types of squamous cell carcinoma, you can take steps to reduce your risk by:
If you notice changes to your skin, contact your healthcare provider or visit a dermatologist for a professional skin exam. Outlook / PrognosisWhat can I expect if I have squamous cell carcinoma?Most cases of squamous cell carcinoma have a positive prognosis and an excellent survival rate if you receive an early diagnosis. Early detection and treatment prevent the tumor from growing and damaging other parts of your body. If your healthcare provider removes your cancer, there’s a chance it can return in the future. Make sure to follow up with your healthcare provider to verify you’re cancer-free. It’s also important to protect your skin from UV rays when outdoors. Living WithWhen should I see my healthcare provider?Contact your healthcare provider if:
What questions should I ask my doctor?
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the difference between squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma?Both squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are types of skin cancer that you can get from too much sun (ultraviolet ray) exposure. An overproduction of either squamous or basal cells causes both conditions. Squamous cell carcinomas can form on your skin (epidermis) in the same way BCC does, but SCC can also form where you have mucus membranes on your body, which includes the inside of your mouth, throat, lungs and genitals. What is squamous cell carcinoma in situ?Squamous cell carcinoma in situ is also known as Bowen disease. The term “in situ” means that the cancer cells are only in the top layer of your skin (epidermis). The most common places to find Bowen disease is on sun-exposed areas of your skin, but the condition can also appear on the skin near your anal cavity and genitals, like on your labia or vulva (vulvar cancer). A note from Cleveland Clinic It can be scary finding a new lump on your skin that leads to a cancer diagnosis. But treatment for squamous cell carcinoma is effective at removing cancer from your body. Take steps to prevent squamous cell carcinoma by protecting yourself from the sun’s UV rays. Call your healthcare provider if you find any new lumps or bumps on your skin, and get them examined and treated immediately. How serious is squamous cell carcinoma in situ?Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is usually not life-threatening, though it can be aggressive. Untreated, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can grow large or spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications.
How do you treat squamous cell carcinoma in situ?Squamous cell carcinoma in situ is an intra-epidermal malignancy of the skin with potential to progress to in- vasive carcinoma. Commonly used treatments are surgi- cal excision, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, laser ablation, curettage with cautery, radiotherapy, topical 5-fluorouracil, and topical imiquimod.
Is squamous cell carcinoma in situ considered malignant?Carcinoma in situ refers to cancer in which abnormal cells have not spread beyond where they first formed. The words “in situ” mean “in its original place.” These in situ cells are not malignant, or cancerous. However, they can sometime become cancerous and spread to other nearby locations.
What is the most common treatment for squamous cell carcinoma?Mohs surgery is the most effective technique for removing SCCs, sparing the greatest amount of healthy tissue while achieving the highest possible cure rate – up to 97 percent for tumors treated for the first time.
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