What is Squamous Cell Skin Carcinoma Skin Cancer?
A squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer is a type of skin cancer that usually results from a long term sun damage or exposure to ultra-violet rays to the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer spreads gradually and also has the capacity to spread to tissues near the affected area such as the eye. The cancer can also spread to distant parts of the body in case, it is not treated on time.
The best and the only way to make sure if a skin growth is cancerous is to go for a biopsy. The process involves removal of a small section of the skin. Thereafter a pathologist analyzes it under the microscope in a medical laboratory.
Remember that a biopsy is not a process to remove cancer. It just works towards taking off the tip of the cancer.
In some cases the skin tends to heal once the biopsy is done as it grows over the cancer. However, this does not indicate that the cancer is removed completely. Here, the cancer is only covered with a blanket of skin. In case, the cancer is not removed fully, it can get deeper in to the skin and even metastasize to the internal organs of the body resulting in death of a human being.
Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer is known to be one of the most common forms of skin cancer. It is shocking but true that over 25,000 new cases have been reported in a year in the United States alone. The cancer originates from the squamous cells that are most of the portion of the upper layer of the skin.
All cases of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer are not serious. If detected early and treated promptly, one can easily survive this disease. However, if not treated properly, the disease can prove to be very hard to treat and can even result in disfigurement.
There are several causes of the origination of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer. Some of these include the following:
i) Frequent and long exposure to harmful sun rays. This result in severe skin damage and ultimately develop in to squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer.
ii) The damage to the skin done by sun is the most responsible factor for development of this type of cancer. The face is most exposed to sun and the cancer spreads to the other parts of the body.
iii) Light skinned people have greater risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer.
iv) People who have already developed this cancer are said to develop more.
Chronic exposure to the sun is the main cause of this type of cancer. The tumor invades to body parts such as face, neck, bald scalp, hands, shoulders, arms and back that are more exposed to sun. The lower lip and the rim of the ear are more vulnerable to these cancers.
Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer may also develop due to certain types of injury such as scars, burns, long existing sores, sites exposed to X-rays or some harmful chemicals, such as arsenic of by-products of petroleum. Reduced immunity is also one of the main reasons for the spread of this type of cancer. Detect and treat early to stay away from possible damage and full recovery.
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If you had skin cancer, would you know it?
For many people, the answer to this question is no. They don’t know how to look for signs of skin cancer on their own skin. Because of this, if they get skin cancer, they may not spot it promptly.
Most types of skin cancer can be treated quickly and easily if they are found early. But if the diagnosis is delayed, the cancer can spread. In the case of melanoma, this can be fatal. Even for less serious skin cancers, such as the very common basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, delayed detection can lead to complications.
So how do you spot skin cancer? The key is knowing your own skin and being aware of changes in it.
The best way to do this is to learn how to do a complete skin self-examination. To do this, you need a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, and a place where you can use them in privacy. Stand in front of the full-length mirror and look carefully at the skin on every part of your body that you can see. Get to know your moles, marks, and other skin irregularities. Then, use the hand mirror to help you look at the places on your body that you can’t see with just one mirror. Again, take note of any marks that you see.
Once you’re familiar with what your skin normally looks like, you’ll be prepared to spot changes. Any new change in your skin should be brought to the attention of a doctor, preferably a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in treating skin problems). Most changes will turn out not to be skin cancer, but it’s worth the trouble of having them checked out.
Changes that you should particularly look for, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, include the following:
- A sore that never really heals
- A translucent growth, perhaps with rolled edges
- A dark streak under one of your fingernails or toenails
- A cluster of shiny pinkish or reddish areas that grows slowly
- A scar with a waxy feel to it
- A flat or slightly depressed area that feels hard
When you’re looking at your skin, it’s especially important to examine all moles carefully. Most moles are perfectly normal, but it’s possible for an unusual-looking mole to be a melanoma or to turn into a melanoma.
Normal, typical moles are usually small, uniform in color, and symmetrical (the two sides look the same). They have sharp, regular borders, and they are usually located on parts of your body that are exposed to the sun. Most of them first appear sometime between early childhood and age 40, and the moles on a particular person’s body all tend to look the same. Moles that fit this description are of no concern.
Moles that should be brought to a doctor’s attention include:
- Moles that are present at birth
- Moles that first appear during middle age or later
- Any mole that has changed in appearance
- Any mole that itches or bleeds
- Any mole that shows one of the “ABCD” signs of an atypical mole. Doctors use the ABCD mnemonic to help patients remember some of the differences between atypical moles and typical ones.
The four letters stand for the following:
”A” stands for “Asymmetry. ” A mole that is not symmetrical (that is, one in which one half doesn’t look like the other half) is an atypical mole.
”B” stands for “Border Irregularity. ” A mole with a ragged or blurred edge or with notches in the edge is atypical.
”C” stands for “Color. ” A mole that contains a variety of different colors or shades is atypical.
”D” stands for “Diameter. ” A mole with a diameter larger than that of a pencil eraser is atypical.
All atypical moles – and any other skin changes or irregularities that concern you – should be examined by a doctor. Often, the doctor can tell just by looking (sometimes with the aid of a magnifying device called a dermatoscope) that the unusual-looking area is not skin cancer. In other instances, the doctor may need to perform a biopsy. This is a simple diagnostic test, performed in the doctor’s office, in which a sample of the abnormal area is removed and sent to a laboratory to be examined under a microscope.
If you do spot an abnormality on your skin, there’s no need to panic. Even if the abnormality turns out to be skin cancer (and it probably won’t), it will almost certainly be curable. The important thing is to show the abnormality to a doctor promptly so that if it is skin cancer, it can be treated right away.
There are many types of skin cancer ranging from melanoma skin cancer and basal cell carcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma. Know your skin to be able to identify atypical moles and new spots. Learn more on http://www. SkinCancerInfoLine. com.
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