Squamous cell carcinoma: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition

What is squamous cell carcinoma?

Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs in the squamous cells that make up the middle and outer layers of the skin.

In general, squamous cell carcinoma is not a cancer that can be life threatening. However, the development of this type of skin cancer is arguably quite aggressive.

This means that if squamous cell carcinoma is not treated immediately, the disease can continue to develop and spread to other parts of the body. This of course can lead to complications.

In fact, squamous cells can be found in many parts of your body. That is why, this disease can occur where squamous cells are located. Therefore, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin refers to skin cancer that forms in squamous cells.

How common is squamous cell carcinoma?

After basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer that is experienced. However, this type of skin cancer is still more common than melanoma cancer.

Even so, this type of cancer is not life threatening as long as it is handled properly. You can see a doctor if you feel various symptoms of skin cancer on this one.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma?

In general, this disease will appear on areas of the skin that are often exposed to direct sunlight. For example, the scalp, backs of hands, ears, and lips.

However, this does not mean that the disease may not appear in other areas of the skin. The reason is, squamous cell carcinoma can also appear in the mouth, soles of the feet, to the genitals.

The main symptom usually shown by sufferers of this disease is the presence of skin that is thickened, reddish, and dry but does not improve.

Apart from that, there are a number of other symptoms that should concern you, including:

• A rash on the skin that is reddish in color.
• Dry, scaly sores.
• A new wound that appears on the area of ​​the old scar.
• Dry, peeling sores on the lips that have the potential to become open sores.
• Red sores on the inside of the mouth.
• Red sores that look like fungi on the genital area.

When to see a doctor?

Immediately check the health condition of the skin to the doctor if you find a wound or certain condition on the skin that has not healed within two months.

You don't need to panic too first because not all skin health problems are caused by cancer. It is better to find out the health condition in advance to determine the right type of treatment for your condition.

Cause

What causes squamous cell carcinoma?

The main cause of this skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays which attack skin health conditions. Typically, exposure to UV rays is obtained from sunlight and equipment tanning (tan) in the room.

Any UV exposure that attacks your skin can damage the DNA present in your skin cells. Usually, this happens if you are outdoors too often and are exposed to direct sunlight without using skin protection such as sunscreen (sunblock).

Initially, the body will try to repair the damage. However, if it happens too often, the body is no longer able to handle it, causing DNA mutations in skin cells.

Cells that have mutated DNA will turn into cancer cells and multiply in an instant. If these cells multiply, this collection of cells will form a tumor.

If a tumor forms in the skin cells called squamous cells, you will develop squamous cell carcinoma.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for squamous cell carcinoma?

There are several conditions that can increase your risk of developing skin cancer on this one. You may have one of the many conditions. Therefore, consider some of the risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma as follows:

1. Excessive sun exposure

Even though it has benefits for the health of the body, it does not mean that sun exposure is good for skin health conditions. Especially if you are often exposed to excessive sunlight without using protection.

Sun exposure can cause sunburns and too much ultraviolet light. In fact, both of these things increase your risk of experiencing this disease.

2. Skin damage due to exposure to UV rays

As mentioned earlier, the cause of this disease is excessive UV exposure. Therefore, if you experience skin damage due to UV rays, your risk of developing this disease is even higher.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the use of special beds for tanning can increase your risk of developing this disease by up to 67 percent.

3. Bright skin

Apparently, having fairer and brighter skin is not always fun. The reason is, people with white skin, bright eye color, or have blonde and red hair are at a higher risk of developing one of these types of skin cancer.

Why is that? The reason is, people who have one of the conditions mentioned above have skin that is more easily damaged due to sun exposure.

Even so, it does not mean that people with darker skin color cannot experience this condition.

4. Actinic keratosis (solar keratosis)

This condition occurs when the skin becomes thick, dry, and stiff caused by sun exposure. Skin conditions that experience solar keratosis have the potential to turn into squamous cell carcinoma, if not treated immediately.

Therefore, if you want to prevent this skin cancer, immediately treat skin conditions that experience solar keratosis.

5. History of sunburn

If you burned your skin as an early age or teenager, you are at an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma. The reason is, skin cancer can form from the wound tissue that forms after the skin burns.

Of the various types of skin cancer that may occur after sunburn, this disease is among the most common. However, squamous cell carcinoma did not occur until a few years later.

6. History of skin cancer

If you have had this disease before, the risk of this skin cancer coming back is even greater. This means that even though you have recovered, you may experience it again at a later date.

7. Weak immune system

If you have a weakened immune system, your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma increases. Usually, people who have a weak immune system are people with blood cancer (leukemia), lymphoma, or people who take drugs to suppress the immune system, such as people who have had organ transplant surgery.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed?

There are several steps a doctor or medical professional can take to help you diagnose squamous cell carcinoma, including:

1. Physical test

The doctor will ask you some questions about your medical history and check if your skin shows any symptoms of this disease.

2. Biopsy

To confirm the presence of this skin cancer, usually a biopsy will be performed. This procedure is done by taking a sample of skin tissue that is affected by a wound. However, before the sample is taken, your skin will be numbed first.

What are the treatments for squamous cell carcinoma?

Treatments for skin cancer differ based on size and the likelihood of spread.

Treatment for cancer that is small

For small squamous cell carcinoma, treatment can be done:

• Curettage and electrodesication

The skin of a patient with cancer will be curetted or removed first. Then, the base of the cancer will be burned using an electric needle.

• Laser therapy

This procedure is performed using a laser beam to stop cancer growth. This procedure is classified as a minimal risk to the surrounding skin tissue. In fact, this therapy also reduces the risk of bleeding, swelling, and injury.

• Freezing

This treatment is done by freezing cancer cells using liquid nitrogen. Usually, this procedure is done after the skin that is affected by cancer is curled first.

• Photodynamic therapy

This method is done by using light to treat cancerous skin. The patient will also be given drugs that increase sensitivity to light. The drug makes the patient's skin sensitive to light which is used to destroy the cancer cells in it.

Treatment for large cancer cells

Meanwhile, for large squamous cell carcinoma, treatment can be done:

• Excision surgery

This surgical operation is done by cutting the tumor along with the skin around the area where the tumor is located. The goal, cancer cells that may have spread in the skin around the tumor are also removed.

If the doctor does not find cancer cells in the skin that were removed, treatment is complete at that stage. However, if the doctor finds cancer cells that have spread to normal skin, you will need to carry out further treatment.

• Operation Mohs

This surgery is often performed to treat squamous cell carcinoma that usually occurs on the face, neck, or hands. This operation is done by removing a small piece of skin as a sample to see the spread of cancer cells.

This procedure will continue until the doctor finds no more skin tissue that contains cancer cells in your body.

• Radiation therapy

This therapy uses X-rays and protons to kill cancer cells. Usually, this therapy is done after the patient has undergone surgery to prevent the cancer from coming back. However, this therapy can also be done for patients who cannot undergo surgery.

If the cancer has spread beyond the skin tissue and invades other organs, the doctor may order several treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for cancer.

Prevention

How to prevent squamous cell carcinoma?

If you don't want to experience one of these types of skin cancer, you can do a number of things as preventive measures, including:

• Wear sunscreen that is equipped with SPF 30 every time you want to go outside and have activities outside the room.
• Wear closed clothes, for example, wearing long sleeves and long pants. If necessary, wear a hat and sunglasses when outdoors.
• As much as possible avoid sun exposure during the day, especially from 10 am to 3 pm.
• Avoid doing tanning in a closed room.
• Perform regular skin examinations and immediately check your health condition if you find any abnormalities in the skin.