Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer, after basal cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma can become disfiguring and sometimes deadly if it’s not treated early.

Unlike basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other parts of your body, including your lungs and lymph nodes.

You’re at increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma if you:

Spend a lot of time in the sun

Have light skin that doesn’t tan easily or freckles easily

Have had severe sunburns in the past

Have a disease that weakens your immune system, such as HIV

Are older than age 40

Squamous cell carcinomas are often found on areas of your body exposed to the sun, such as your head, neck and back of your hands. They may appear as scaly red patches, open sores, warts or raised bumps with a lower area in their center. Some people have only one squamous cell carcinoma; others develop many.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a kind of skin cancer that can appear anywhere on the body, but is most common in areas that have had a lot of sun exposure like the face, lips, ears and hands. While SCC can be dangerous, it is rarely fatal unless it’s not treated or if it has spread to other parts of the body.

Symptoms:

Symptoms will vary depending on where the cancer is located. If you notice any of these signs, see your doctor:

• A firm red lump on your skin

• A sore lump with a scaly crust or a crusted surface that doesn’t heal

• A sore lump with an ulcer in the middle

• A sore lump with small red bumps around it (like a ring)

Causes:

Experts don’t know exactly what causes SCC, but we do know that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from sunlight or tanning lamps increases its risk. Other risk factors include:

• Being male and over 50 years old

• Having fair skin, light-coloured eyes and hair

• Having sunburns as a child or teenager

• Having moles on your

Squamous cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer. It commonly appears in the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis. This type of skin cancer can appear anywhere on the body but is most often found in areas that receive regular sun exposure such as the face, ears and lips.

When detected early, squamous cell carcinoma can usually be cured with no lasting damage. However, if left untreated it may spread to other parts of your body including internal organs. It’s important to have any suspicious skin spots checked by a dermatologist right away.

The risk factors for developing this type of cancer include:

• Being fair-skinned

• Having red or blond hair

• Having blue or green eyes

It can also develop among individuals who have had:

• Severe sunburns or frequent sunburns

• Exposure to certain chemicals such as arsenic or certain types of oil

• A weakened immune system from chemotherapy or medications such as steroids

Squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer that has the potential to spread to other parts of the body and cause death.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (pronounced skwaymuss) is a common type of skin cancer. It is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the epidermis. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin.

Squamous cells are flat, thin cells that form the outer layer of the skin. These cells are constantly growing, dying, and being replaced by new ones in a process called differentiation. Sometimes this process fails and new, abnormal cells grow and do not die. The build up of these extra cells form squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).

Squamous cell carcinomas usually occur on sun-exposed areas of the body like lips, ears, face, bald scalp, hands, arms, neck and legs but can also occur on other areas like inside your mouth or vagina. They most often appear as rough patches or open sores with a scaly crust that may bleed. Squamous cell carcinomas can be red or pink in color. Once they become larger they will take on a waxy appearance and become firm to the touch.

The exact cause is unknown but what we do know is that

Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer. It’s caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Squamous cell carcinoma usually appears on areas exposed to the sun, such as your head, neck, arms and legs.

This type of cancer isn’t as common as basal cell carcinoma, but it can be more serious because it’s more likely to spread to other areas of your body. Early treatment can reduce the risk that squamous cell carcinoma will advance and become life threatening.

Squamous cell carcinoma signs and symptoms may include:

A firm red nodule

A flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface

An open sore that bleeds and develops a crust or a pimple that persists for several weeks and doesn’t heal

A wart-like growth that has rough surfaces or uneven edges, is the same color throughout or has dark moles in the center

Squamous cell carcinoma most often occurs on areas of your body frequently exposed to the sun, such as your face, ears, neck, lips and backs of your hands. But it may also occur on areas that receive less exposure to the sun, including your genital area and the underside of your arms and legs.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that can look like scaly patches or open sores on your skin. It is the second most common form of skin cancer and occurs when mutations in DNA cause skin cells to grow out of control and form a tumor. Squamous cell carcinomas are curable if caught early, but if it spreads to other parts of the body, it can be fatal.

Squamous cell carcinoma, also known as epidermoid carcinoma, is the second most common type of skin cancer. It develops from cells called squamous cells that make up most of the upper layer of the skin (the epidermis).

Squamous cell carcinomas usually occur on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ears, neck, lips, and backs of the hands. But they can develop anywhere. Squamous cell carcinoma can also form in other organs such as the mouth and genitals.

Risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma include fair skin and a history of sunburn or other excessive sun exposure. People who have had an organ transplant are at increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinomas because they must take drugs that suppress their immune system to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. Smoking tobacco products also increases risk.