The second most common type of skin cancer in the United States issquamous cell carcinoma(SCC).It occurs more often in men than in women, in fair-skinned people more than people of color, and in regions with more sun exposure such as the southern U.S. and Australia.
Risk Factors
Some common squamous cell carcinoma risk factors include:
Some rare squamous cell carcinoma risk factors include:
Appearance of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Treatment options for this skin cancerdepend on information gleaned from the biopsy.
Simple excision- This procedure involves surgical excision of the skin cancer including a margin of normal skin. The advantage of this treatment is that it is quick and inexpensive. However, the difference between normal and cancerous tissue must be judged with the naked eye.
Radiation therapy- This procedure involves a course of radiation therapy to the tumor area. At this time, however, there is insufficient evidence that radiation after surgery improves the recurrence rate of squamous cell carcinoma. It can also have the long-term effects of scarring, ulceration, and thinning of the skin.
Chemotherapy- Chemotherapy may be used for advanced stages of SCC to shrink tumors before other treatments like radiation and surgery or to slow the growth of tumors and relieve symptoms.
Immunotherapy - Cemiplimab, an immunotherapy belonging to the checkpoints inhibitors class, is currently approved for the treatment of advanced, unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
Prevention
There are several recommendations to helpprevent skin cancer.
Avoid UV radiation from sun exposure - Avoid the midday sun, use protective clothing, and use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. This is especially important for children.
Avoid tobacco products - This includes cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and snuff. Since these products increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma on lip and mouth, their use should be reduced or cut out altogether.
Avoid polycyclic hydrocarbons - Jobs that require contact with these compounds are highly regulated. Use protective gear at all times while working with these compounds.
Have suspicious lesions checked out - If you have a question, get it checked out. Treating premalignant lesions prevents their transformation to potentially metastatic skin cancer.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin cancer facts & statistics.American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer risk factors.World Health Organization.Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and skin cancer.Benjamin CL, Ullrich SE, Kripke ML, Ananthaswamy HN.P53 tumor suppressor gene: A critical molecular target for uv induction and prevention of skin cancer.Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84(1):55-62. doi:10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00213.xAmerican Cancer Society.Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.Badash I, Shauly O, Lui CG, Gould DJ, Patel KM.Nonmelanoma facial skin cancer: A review of diagnostic strategies, surgical treatment, and reconstructive techniques.Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat. 2019;12: 1-10. doi:10.1177/1179550619865278Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma treatment.Skin Cancer Foundation.Advanced squamous cell carcinoma treatment.Siddens LK, Larkin A, Krueger SK, et al.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as skin carcinogens: Comparison of benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[def,p]chrysene and three environmental mixtures in the FVB/N mouse.Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 2012;264(3):377-386. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2012.08.014American Cancer Society.Systemic chemotherapy for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.Skin Cancer Foundation.Can basal and squamous cell skin cancers be prevented?Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Skin cancer.Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin cancer facts & statistics.American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer risk factors.World Health Organization.Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and skin cancer.Benjamin CL, Ullrich SE, Kripke ML, Ananthaswamy HN.P53 tumor suppressor gene: A critical molecular target for uv induction and prevention of skin cancer.Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84(1):55-62. doi:10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00213.xAmerican Cancer Society.Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.Badash I, Shauly O, Lui CG, Gould DJ, Patel KM.Nonmelanoma facial skin cancer: A review of diagnostic strategies, surgical treatment, and reconstructive techniques.Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat. 2019;12: 1-10. doi:10.1177/1179550619865278Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma treatment.Skin Cancer Foundation.Advanced squamous cell carcinoma treatment.Siddens LK, Larkin A, Krueger SK, et al.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as skin carcinogens: Comparison of benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[def,p]chrysene and three environmental mixtures in the FVB/N mouse.Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 2012;264(3):377-386. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2012.08.014American Cancer Society.Systemic chemotherapy for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.Skin Cancer Foundation.Can basal and squamous cell skin cancers be prevented?Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Skin cancer.Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin cancer facts & statistics.American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer risk factors.World Health Organization.Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and skin cancer.Benjamin CL, Ullrich SE, Kripke ML, Ananthaswamy HN.P53 tumor suppressor gene: A critical molecular target for uv induction and prevention of skin cancer.Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84(1):55-62. doi:10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00213.xAmerican Cancer Society.Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.Badash I, Shauly O, Lui CG, Gould DJ, Patel KM.Nonmelanoma facial skin cancer: A review of diagnostic strategies, surgical treatment, and reconstructive techniques.Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat. 2019;12: 1-10. doi:10.1177/1179550619865278Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma treatment.Skin Cancer Foundation.Advanced squamous cell carcinoma treatment.Siddens LK, Larkin A, Krueger SK, et al.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as skin carcinogens: Comparison of benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[def,p]chrysene and three environmental mixtures in the FVB/N mouse.Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 2012;264(3):377-386. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2012.08.014American Cancer Society.Systemic chemotherapy for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.Skin Cancer Foundation.Can basal and squamous cell skin cancers be prevented?
Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin cancer facts & statistics.
American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer risk factors.
World Health Organization.Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and skin cancer.
Benjamin CL, Ullrich SE, Kripke ML, Ananthaswamy HN.P53 tumor suppressor gene: A critical molecular target for uv induction and prevention of skin cancer.Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84(1):55-62. doi:10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00213.x
American Cancer Society.Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Badash I, Shauly O, Lui CG, Gould DJ, Patel KM.Nonmelanoma facial skin cancer: A review of diagnostic strategies, surgical treatment, and reconstructive techniques.Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat. 2019;12: 1-10. doi:10.1177/1179550619865278
Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma treatment.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Advanced squamous cell carcinoma treatment.
Siddens LK, Larkin A, Krueger SK, et al.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as skin carcinogens: Comparison of benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[def,p]chrysene and three environmental mixtures in the FVB/N mouse.Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 2012;264(3):377-386. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2012.08.014
American Cancer Society.Systemic chemotherapy for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Can basal and squamous cell skin cancers be prevented?
American Cancer Society.Skin cancer.Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer.
American Cancer Society.Skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer.
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