Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

SCC Skin Cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the next most dangerous skin cancer (after melanoma) and often can look like red scaling patches. Typical places for them to appear are the sun-exposed sites such as forehead, nose, lips, ears, balding scalps, backs of hands and forearms, and lower legs.

SCCs are cancers of the keratinocytes, or scale forming cells of the skin. They arise from long term damage by UV radiation. Other carcinogens include tar and mineral oils, and x-ray radiation. Human papilloma wart virus (HPV) also plays a part with this being particularly evident when there is immune suppression such as with organ transplant patients.

Tumours will often start as localised thickenings of skin, or actinic keratoses (AKs). It is estimated that 10% of AKs will develop into SCC. When the pre-cancer occupies the full thickness of the skin it is termed ‘Bowen’s disease’, and from there it can become fully invasive SCC. Often once the lesion has become cancerous it can become quite tender. If the SCC is allowed to develop, it can then metastasise to distant sites, spreading either by the blood stream, lymphatics or by invasion of nerves.

Treatment of SCC, if detected early, may simply involve surgery under local anaesthetic, ideally as a full excision. Sometimes radiotherapy can be a good option. AKs can be effectively treated by cryotherapy or liquid nitrogen, and in certain cases, chemotherapeutic creams can be used.

At Skinsite we have noticed that because these lesions can be very rapidly growing, if there is any change it is worth getting them checked, even if it is before scheduled follow-up visits. In terms of prevention of new lesions, evidence shows that sunscreen useage has been proven to dramatically decrease the incidence of both AKs and SCCs.