Treatment
What is Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is most commonly treated by removing the cells:
- Mohs Surgery- the growth is removed layer by layer and each layer is examined until only healthy cells are found in the layer (skincancer).
- Simple Excision- The effected area and a margin of healthy skin are removed (skincancer).
- Laser Therapy- An intense beam of light vaporizes the cells in the area (skincancer).
- Radiation Therapy- commonly used for areas such as the eyelid that are hard to treat or tumors that are too deep to cut (skincancer).
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer diagnosed in the US (skincancer). The cancer occurs when cell death and renewal no longer occur as they should. Normally, new skins cells are only created to replace old dead cells, but when this disease is acquired skin cells grow rapidly and without purpose (Mitosis worksheet).
This defect can occur anywhere on the body, most commonly on the face, neck, ears, or any place on the body affected by scarring or UV ray damage (mayoclinic).
Approximately 700,000 people are diagnosed with this specific form of skin cancer, and about 2,500 cases are lethal (cancer).
Preventing SCC
Treatments Cont:
Causes
- Avoid long hours in the sun (Cancerquest).
- Avoid using commercial tanning booths (mayoclinic).
- Use sun screen year round on fair skin (cancerquest).
- Wear protective clothing when out in the sun (mayoclinic).
- Be cautious of scars and inflamed skin (mayoclinic).
- Be cautious when using medications that suppress your immune system (cancerquest).
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is most commonly cause by the following:
- Therapeutic radiation such as x-rays to the head and neck (AAD).
- Chemical toxins most often arsenic (found in seafood, rice, mushrooms, and chicken) (AAD).
- HPV increases SCC chances (AAD).
- Taking drugs that suppress your immune system-often used after organ transplant operations (mayoclinic).
- Cryosurgery- liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and destroy the cells (mayoclinic).
- Chemotherapy- in extreme cases that have already spread from the skin to other organs, a treatment lotion is used (skincancer).
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Symptoms
By:
Katie Schwartz
and
Allyson Kempf
Squamous Cell Carcinoma can be characterized by the following:
- a firm red nodule on the face, lips, ears, neck, hands, or arms that bleeds on occasion (AAD).
- A flat lesion with a scaly crust on similar parts (AAD).
- A new ulceration or raised area on a previously existing scar or ulcer (AAD).
- An ulcer of flat white patch inside the mouth (mayoclinic).
- A red or raised patch or ulcerated sore on the anus or genitals (mayoclinic).
Risk Factors
Works Cited
Diagnosis
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is diagnosed with fairly simple procedures including a check in medical history, a visual examination of the affected area, and most commonly a biopsy of the growth of otherwise affected area (About).
A biopsy consists of removing a small sample of the affected area, often with surgical scalpel. The sample is then examined by a dermatologist, or other scientists with further qualifications. Tests run on the sample determine whether or not the cells are cancerous (AAD).
SCC is more likely to develop in;
- Tobacco users (CNN).
- Males (CNN).
- Adults over 45 (CNN).
- Those with suppressed immune systems (mayoclinic).
- Those exposed to frequent UV rays (mayoclinic).
- Family history of cancer (CNN).
- Those with the rare genetic disorder 'xeroderma pigmentosum" (CNN).
- Those with inflammatory skin disease or scarring (CNN).
American Academy of Dermatology . www.AAD.org. 2012. 4 January 2013.
CNN. www.CNN.com. 2 April 2011. 4 January 2013.
Fayed, Lisa. Cancer.About.com. 23 June 2011. 4 Jaunary 2013.
Mayo Clinic Staff. Mayo Clinic. 20 August 2012. 4 January 2013.
National Cancer Association of America. CancerQuest.org. 2012 October 2012. 4 January 2013.
National Institute of Heath. Cancer.gov. September 2012. 4 January 2013.
The Skin Cancer Foundation. SkinCancer.org. 10 September 2012. 4 January 2013.
US National Library of Health. A.D.A.M Medical Ecyclopedia. 7 July 2011. 4 January 2012.