Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDetermining Stage5 Stages of Skin CancerDetecting MetastasisOther Factors Affecting Treatment and PrognosisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Determining Stage
5 Stages of Skin Cancer
Detecting Metastasis
Other Factors Affecting Treatment and Prognosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Squamous cell carcinoma, also known as squamous cell cancer, is the second most common type of skin cancer followingbasal cell carcinoma.About 1 million cases are diagnosed each year in the United States.
It begins in the squamous skin cells located in the top layer of skin called theepidermis. Squamous cell carcinoma is considered a slow-growing cancer, and staging is not always necessary since the disease is often diagnosed before it has spread.
Basal cell carcinoma, which is a more common type of skin cancer, rarely spreads and is often not staged because the tumor is removed beforestagingis necessary. While squamous cell carcinoma is also a slow-growing cancer, its risk of spread is slightly higher than that of basal cell carcinoma. This article will explain how squamous cell carcinoma is staged and what other factors affect prognosis.
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How the Stage Is Determined
Once you have been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, your doctor will want to determine its stage. While the risk of this type of cancer spreading is low, determining the stage will help your doctor develop the best treatment plan.
The TNM system is a uniform system for staging many types of cancer. TNM stands for:
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What Are the 5 Stages of Skin Cancer?
Staging is an important tool used to treatskin cancer. Your stage helps the medical team determine where the tumor is, how large it is, where it has spread, your prognosis, and the most effective treatment plan.
The five stages of squamous cell carcinoma include:
Skin Cancer Types: Most Common and Fatal Types with Pictures
How to Tell If Squamous Cell Carcinoma Has Spread
While it’s not common for squamous cell carcinoma to spread, it is helpful to be mindful of the signs. First, there are certain known risk factors to be aware of, as these characteristics have been associated with a higher stage of squamous cell carcinoma. Risk factors for squamous cell spreading include:
Knowing the stage of your cancer will help your medical team understand how serious it is and how best to treat it. Staging squamous cell carcinoma is based on a physical exam, detailed history,skin biopsy, lymph node biopsy, and imaging studies.
To determine if your cancer has spread, your physician may recommend several diagnostic tests. A skin or lymph node biopsy (removing a sample of tissue to view in a lab) can show how far cancer cells have spread in the region of the primary tumor. Your medical team may also recommend acomputed tomography (CT) scanto determine the spread.
While most squamous cell carcinoma lesions are painless, it is possible to experience pain or numbness at the site.
What Are the Risk Factors for Squamous Cell Carcinoma?Risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma include:Unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) raysLight-colored hair, skin, or eyesHistory of skin cancerAge over 50Male genderCompromised immune systemHistory of human papillomavirus (HPV)History of chronic skin infections
What Are the Risk Factors for Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
Risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma include:Unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) raysLight-colored hair, skin, or eyesHistory of skin cancerAge over 50Male genderCompromised immune systemHistory of human papillomavirus (HPV)History of chronic skin infections
Risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma include:
Factors Other than Stage that Affect Treatment Options and Prognosis
Fortunately, when caught early, squamous cell carcinoma can be treated and cured. In addition to the stage of your cancer, the medical team will look at the whole picture to determine the best treatment plan for you.
Other factors to consider include:
Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma usually involves surgery to remove the lesion. The surgical options include:
Rarely, squamous cell carcinoma is treated with chemotherapy (cancer-killing drugs), radiation therapy (high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells), and immunotherapy (substances that stimulate your body’s immune response) when it has metastasized to other areas of the body.
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Summary
Squamous cell carcinoma is a slow-growing skin cancer that is often diagnosed before it has spread. Once you have been diagnosed, your physician will likely determine the stage before making a treatment recommendation. When caught early, squamous cell carcinoma is curable.
A Word From Verywell
Learning that you have skin cancer is a frightening experience. It’s helpful to remember that squamous cell carcinoma is curable when caught early. If you have noticed a new sore or growth on your skin, see your dermatologist to get it checked out.
When caught early, squamous cell carcinoma is curable. To determine your prognosis, your medical team will consider your cancer stage, where it is located, how quickly it is growing, and your overall health.
No, squamous cell carcinoma is not considered a fast-growing cancer. While it tends to spread more quickly than basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma is still considered a slow-growing type of skin cancer.
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Most cases of squamous cell carcinoma are treated with surgery to remove the cancerous growth. Rarely, when squamous cell carcinoma has already spread to other tissues, it may be treated with chemotherapy. Late-stage squamous cell carcinoma may also require radiation therapy and immunotherapy.
7 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.Squamous Cell Carcinoma Warning Signs.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers.Cancer Treatment Centers of America.Understanding how skin cancer is staged and graded.American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer stages.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Skin cancer types: Squamous cell carcinoma symptoms.Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma risk factors.American Cancer Society.Treating squamous cell carcinoma.
7 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.Squamous Cell Carcinoma Warning Signs.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers.Cancer Treatment Centers of America.Understanding how skin cancer is staged and graded.American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer stages.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Skin cancer types: Squamous cell carcinoma symptoms.Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma risk factors.American Cancer Society.Treating squamous cell carcinoma.
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.Squamous Cell Carcinoma Warning Signs.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers.Cancer Treatment Centers of America.Understanding how skin cancer is staged and graded.American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer stages.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Skin cancer types: Squamous cell carcinoma symptoms.Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma risk factors.American Cancer Society.Treating squamous cell carcinoma.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous Cell Carcinoma Warning Signs.
American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America.Understanding how skin cancer is staged and graded.
American Cancer Society.Basal and squamous cell skin cancer stages.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Skin cancer types: Squamous cell carcinoma symptoms.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma risk factors.
American Cancer Society.Treating squamous cell carcinoma.
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