Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common forms of skin cancer with over 700,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. It typically presents as scaly, red and grayish white lesions on the skin surface. It usually forms on areas of the body exposed frequently to ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds. Although SCCs are usually not life-threatening, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body and cause health complications if left untreated.

Your dermatologist will plan a course of treatment based on the stage of the squamous cell carcinoma as well as your personal medical history.

While normally used for precancerous lesions, cryotherapy (freezing the cancer cells with liquid nitrogen) is an option for treating some thin SCCs.

Topical chemotherapy involves the application of anti-cancer medications applied directly on the affected skin and is another option in some circumstances for early SCCs.

Early or superficial SCCs can often be treated with curettage and electrodesiccation.  Commonly referred to as “ED&C,” this procedure involves scraping away the cancer with a sharp instrument called a curette, then treating the area with heat from an electrode instrument to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

A surgical procedure called an excision is a common treatment for more advanced squamous cell skin cancers.  This is an in-office procedure done with local anesthesia in which the diseased tissue is cut out and the surrounding skin is stitched together.

Mohs surgery may be recommended depending on the particular features of the SCC, such as the size and location of the lesion.  Mohs surgery is a specialized procedure designed to remove as minimal of the normal surrounding skin as possible while providing the highest cure rate for the carcinoma.

Large tumors that cannot be safely removed with surgery may be treated with radiation therapy. This is a painless procedure similar to getting an x-ray, only the radiation is stronger and focused directly on the cancerous area. Radiation therapy side effects may include hair loss, skin irritation or changes in skin tone.

Rarely, systemic chemotherapy and oral medications may be used to treat lesions that are not amenable to excision or radiation therapy.

Squamous cell carcinomas are curable if caught early. If you have a lesion that is concerning for squamous cell carcinoma, you are encouraged to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist for evaluation.

If you are concerned about squamous cell carcinoma, click here to schedule an appointment with our board-certified dermatologists or walk into Walk-in Dermatology at your convenience for immediate evaluation.