Squamous cell skin cancer

Squamous cell skin cancer is a common type of skin cancer. It's often caused by too much sun. This cancer grows slowly. When found and treated early, most of these cancers can be cured. If not treated, this skin cancer may grow and spread (metastasize).

Squamous cell skin cancer often affects the head, neck, trunk, arms, and legs. But it can be anywhere on the body where there is skin. This includes inside the mouth, on the genitals, and near the anus.

Signs of squamous cell skin cancer include:

• Any firm bump that doesn't go away. It is often on sun-exposed skin. But it can be on any part of the body.
• Any patch of skin that feels scaly, bleeds, or develops a crust. The patch may get bigger over a period of months and form a sore.
• Any skin growth that looks like a wart.
• Any sore that does not heal. It may occur in a scar or on skin that has ongoing problems.
• Any area of thickened skin on the lower lip. This is more likely if you smoke or use chewing tobacco, or your lips are often exposed to the sun and wind.

Your doctor will ask about your past health and do a physical exam. This will include taking a close look at the skin growth. The doctor may take a sample (biopsy) of the growth to test in a lab. A biopsy can confirm whether the growth is cancer.

Your doctor will want to remove all of the cancer. There are several ways to remove it. It depends on how big it is, where it is on your body, and your age and overall health. Options include:

• Surgery. The doctor numbs the skin and cuts out the cancer. This almost always cures the cancer.
• Mohs micrographic surgery. The doctor removes the skin cancer one layer at a time, checking each layer for cancer cells right after it is removed.
• Curettage and electrosurgery. Curettage uses a spoon-shaped tool (curette) to scrape off the skin cancer. Electrosurgery controls the bleeding.
• Cryosurgery. This destroys the cancer by freezing it.
• Photodynamic therapy. This uses a medicine that is activated with light.

Radiation therapy may be done if surgery isn't an option. Other treatment options include medicine applied to the skin (topical therapy). Treatment for advanced cases may include immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

After treatment, you'll need regular checkups.

Protect your skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays. For example, stay out of the sun during midday hours, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, and wear protective clothing. Get skin exams as advised by your doctor, and check all of your own skin for changes. Avoid medicines that can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays.