Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Causes and Treatment
What Is Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
Squamous cell carcinoma (also known as squamous cell carcinoma of the skin) is an uncommon type of cancer that starts from the cells in your skin. It affects mostly older people and it's more common in men than women.
Historically, squamous cell carcinoma often began on the soles of your feet or other sun-exposed parts of your body.
In recent years, however, it has been reported to start in non-sun exposed areas such as ear canals and genitals. It's sometimes treated with surgery but there is a chance that it will return after treatment if not treated aggressively enough.
What Causes Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
Squamous cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer. It begins in your skin cells. Skin cancer is often caused by long-term exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can lead to changes in the DNA of your skin cells and cause them to grow out of control.
Ultraviolet rays from tanning beds and sun lamps also can cause this type of cancer, as can non-ionizing radiation from X-ray machines or radium that was used for medical purposes in the past.
Squamous cell carcinoma also can be caused by exposure to certain chemicals and other substances, including:
· Arsenic compounds, such as wood preservatives or insecticides;
· Some chemicals used in the rubber and paint industries; and
· Tar can be used as a sealant for roadways and roofs.
People exposed to these substances may develop squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or other types of skin cancer, depending on how much they were exposed to and for how long.
Some people may get only a small number of tumors caused by these substances. These people usually don't have an increased risk of getting other types of cancer. Other people exposed to these substances may develop many different tumors.
However, squamous cell carcinoma is not an inherited disease. You cannot get squamous cell carcinoma from your parents or other members of your family.
What Are The Symptoms Of Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
The main symptom of squamous cell carcinoma is a red, raised bump that may be itchy and painful.
Also, the bump may be sore and there may be drainage from the area. However, sometimes people do not know they have cancer because it can look like something else such as acne, rash or a pimple.
The early stages of melanoma often look like a non-cancerous nodule on the skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need To Remove Moles Or Growths On My Skin?
Moles are very common and more than likely benign so they do not need to be removed.
However, if the mole or growth is unsightly, causes you anxiety or discomfort, changes in size or shape, itches, causes a bad odor or ulcerates you should consider it for removal.
What Are The Treatments/Procedures For Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
In general, squamous cell carcinoma is treated with surgery. If advanced cancer has spread to other parts of your body and there isn't sufficient tissue remaining for complete excision of your skin cancer, radiation therapy may be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may have been missed during the surgery. However, radiation therapy has its risks including side effects such as fatigue and hair loss.
Is There A Cure For Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
If your cancer is treated before it spreads to your lymph nodes or elsewhere, the 5-year survival rate is almost 100%.
However, more advanced squamous cell carcinoma may spread to other parts of the body before it is found. If this happens, you will need treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation. However, these treatments have their risks including side effects such as fatigue and hair loss.
Also, cancers that have spread are not always cured by treatment. But with advances in medical research and treatment for this type of cancer, most people with squamous cell carcinoma can be successfully treated.
How Can I Prevent Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
To help reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, stay out of the sun completely or wear protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat with a wide face shield to protect your face, neck, and ears.
If you are going to be in the sun for more than 30 minutes, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Use one that blocks both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. There are two types of UV rays from sunlight: UVA and UVB. Both can cause skin cancer.
