Why are squamous cells susceptible to cancer

Some keratoacanthomas may be a form of squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by its thick, scaly, irregular appearance, but it can have various appearances, and a doctor may be suspicious of any sores on sun-exposed surfaces that do not heal. Squamous cell carcinoma begins as a red area with a scaly, crusted surface. As it grows, the tumor may become somewhat raised and firm, sometimes with a wartlike surface.

Eventually, the cancer becomes an open sore and grows into the underlying tissue. Squamous cell carcinomas can have various appearances. This photo shows one that is raised, scaly, and crusted. This photo shows an area that is scaly, crusted, and darker than the surrounding skin. It was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma after a biopsy.

This squamous cell carcinoma on the lip shows excess build up of keratin a protein that forms on the surface of the skin, appearing as a brown crust that has broken down to form an open sore.

The doctor has marked the border of the carcinoma with a pen. When doctors suspect squamous cell carcinoma, they do a biopsy Biopsy Doctors can identify many skin disorders simply by looking at the skin.

A full skin examination includes examination of the scalp, nails, and mucous membranes. Sometimes the doctor uses a hand-held In a biopsy, doctors remove a piece of the tumor and examine it under a microscope. Typically, the prognosis for small tumors that are removed early and adequately is excellent. Treatment is usually effective, and most people survive. Most squamous cell carcinomas affect only the area around them, penetrating into nearby tissues.

However, some spread metastasize to distant parts of the body, nearby skin and lymph nodes, and eventually to nearby organs and can be fatal.

Tumors that are more than 2 centimeters in diameter or grow more than 2 millimeters deep, or tumors that occur near the ears and lips, in scars, or around nerves are more likely to spread. About one third of cancers on the tongue or elsewhere in the mouth have metastasized before diagnosis see Mouth and Throat Cancer Mouth and Throat Cancer Mouth and throat cancers are cancers that originate on the lips, the roof, sides, or floor of the mouth, tongue, tonsils, or back of the throat.

Mouth and throat cancers may look like open sores If the cancer is treated before it metastasizes, the person is usually cured. Because squamous cell carcinoma can be caused by sun exposure Overview of Sunlight and Skin Damage Sunlight stimulates vitamin D production, helps control some chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis , and causes a sense of well-being. Avoiding the sun Avoidance Sunburn results from a brief acute overexposure to ultraviolet UV light.

Overexposure to ultraviolet light causes sunburn. Sunburn causes painful reddened skin and sometimes blisters, fever Wearing protective clothing Clothing Sunburn results from a brief acute overexposure to ultraviolet UV light.

Using sunscreen Sunscreens Sunburn results from a brief acute overexposure to ultraviolet UV light. Doctors treat squamous cell carcinoma by scraping and burning the tumor with an electric needle curettage and electrodesiccation , by cutting the tumor out surgical excision , by destroying the cancer using extreme cold cryosurgery , or by applying chemotherapy drugs Chemotherapy Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells.

Squamous cell carcinoma on sun-exposed areas of skin such as the face usually does not spread. However, squamous cell carcinoma of the lip, vulva, and penis are more likely to spread. Contact your doctor about any sore in these areas that does not go away after several weeks. Once squamous cell carcinoma has spread beyond the skin, though, less than half of people live five years, even with aggressive treatment.

The treatment that is best for you depends on the size and location of the cancer, whether it has returned after previous treatment, your age, and your general health. Once your treatment is finished, it's important to have regular follow-up skin exams. Your doctor may want to see you every three months for the first year, for example, and then less often after that.

If squamous cell carcinoma has spread beyond the initial tumor site, radiation therapy can be effective if the cancer is growing in specific, identifiable sites. Widespread metastases do not respond well to chemotherapy. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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