Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Symptoms & Treatment

Squamous cell carcinoma is a common type of skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinomas can be found in many parts of the body including the lungs, skin, anus, esophagus, head and neck areas, and cervix. Squamous cell carcinomas account for about 20% of non-melanoma skin cancers but are clinically more significant because of their ability to metastasize . Squamous cell carcinoma is usually developed in the epithelial layer of the skin and sometimes in various mucous membranes of the body. This type of cancer can be seen on the skin, lips, inside the mouth, throat or esophagus . This type of cancer is characterized by red, scaly skin that becomes an open sore. Squamous cell carcinoma affects about 30,000 Americans each year. Ninety percent are smokers. Alcohol is also a risk factor. Early, curable lesions are rarely symptomatic; thus, preventing fatal disease requires early detection by screening. Treatment is with surgery, radiation, or both. The overall 5-yr survival rate is 52%. In the US, 3% of cancers in men and 2% in women are oral squamous cell carcinomas, most of which occur after age 50. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral or pharyngeal cancer. The chief risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma are smoking and alcohol use. Risk increases dramatically when alcohol use exceeds 6 oz of distilled liquor, 6 oz of wine, or 12 oz of beer/day. The combination of heavy smoking and alcohol abuse is estimated to raise the risk 100-fold in women and 38-fold in men. Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue may also result from Plummer-Vinson syndrome, syphilis, or chronic trauma.

Squamous cell skin cancer is a type of tumor that affects the middle layer of the skin. Squamous cell carcinomas enlarge slowly and steadily and can invade neighboring tissue, like the eye. They can also spread to distant parts of the body (metastasize) if not treated early. The only way to tell for sure if a skin growth is cancerous is to biopsy it. This involves removing a small piece of the skin and having a pathologist look at it under the microscope in a medical laboratory. A biopsy does not remove the cancer, it only takes off the very top. Sometimes the skin will heal after the biopsy because it grows over the cancer. Squamous cell cancer can also occur after organ (e.g. heart, kidney) transplantation. Anti-rejection drugs, that ensure the organ is not rejected by the body, can also suppress the immune system. This can be a major factor towards squamous cell skin cancer. When associated with the prostate, squamous cell carcinoma is very aggressive in nature. It is difficult to detect as there is no increase in prostate specific antigen levels seen; meaning that the cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Causes of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Find common causes and risk factors of Squamous Cell Carcinoma :

• The sun damage responsible for a squamous cell carcinoma usually occurred years before the cancer begins.
• Squamous cell carcinomas are most common on the face because the face receives more sunlight than other parts of the body.
• Older age.
• Having light-colored skin, blue or green eyes, or blond or red hair .
• Repeated, prolonged sun exposure causes skin damage which may develop into squamous cell carcinoma.
• Chemical pollution.
• Exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation.

Treatment for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Treatment may include:

• The most important point about skin cancer is it needs to be completely removed. Many people have lost body parts because of these tumors and some people have lost their lives.
• 5-Fluorouracil cream. This cytotoxic cream applied for several weeks often clears in situ SCC. It causes a vigorous skin reaction that may ulcerate. Sometimes the lesion recurs months or years later, when it may be treated the same way or by another method.
• Radiation treatment can be used for some skin cancers, usually on the face.
• Imiquimod is an immune response modifier in a cream base. Applied five times weekly for six to sixteen weeks, it will clear most patches of in situ SCC but is not yet registered for this purpose.
• Dermatologists sometimes use liquid nitrogen with a special technique. This may be suitable for small or flat lesions of in situ SCC or thickened solar keratoses.