What is Squamous Cell Skin Carcinoma Skin Cancer? is a post from: Skin Cancer Information

by sirwiseowl

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.

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.

Skin cancer is generally separated into two main categories, melanoma and nonmelanoma. Melanoma is the most severe form of skin cancer. The nonmelanoma group encompasses all other skin cancers. The two most common forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer, squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma, are named for the squamous or basal cells which become cancerous.

The top layer of skin, the epidermis, is made up of basal and squamous cells. The surface of the skin is made of round, flat squamous cells, and below these are the basal cells. Hair follicles and sweat glands are in the dermis below the epidermis.

Treatment of basal or squamous cell carcinoma is usually very successful with no side effects if caught early enough. Since symptoms first appear on the skin, detection of skin cancer in its earliest stage of development is possible if you recognize it. These common cancers can be surgically removed if they have not advanced, making aggressive therapy unnecessary. The danger is in not recognizing the symptoms and not going to a doctor, or in contracting skin cancer in a place you wouldn’t normally see it and failing to find it before it metastasizes. To avoid this, you should do regular skin self-examinations, checking for any possible skin cancer symptoms. If you find a small lump, rash, or sore which does not heal, you should ask your doctor if it may be skin cancer.

Melanoma is named for the melanocyte cells which give pigment to the skin and can become cancerous. These cells are located between the dermis and epidermis, and can form benign growths known as nevi, or moles. This occurs when the melanocyte cells reproduce too fast or fail to die, and accumulate into harmless growths which do not spread like cancer does. Most people have between 10 and 40 moles throughout their skin, but having a significantly higher number of nevi is a risk factor for melanoma, as is having dysplastic, or irregularly shaped, nevi. If new moles form, or if changes occur in existing moles, especially dysplastic nevi, you should see a doctor because this may be a symptom of melanoma. Watch for any changes in the skin surrounding a mole, or in the size, shape, or color of the mole.

Generally, if you have a skin anomaly which may be skin cancer, your doctor will perform a biopsy. If the possible tumor can be conveniently removed, the doctor will remove it completely and test it for cancer. No further treatment may be necessary; if the cancer has progressed, you may need topical radiation or chemotherapy, the surgical removal of local lymph nodes, or more aggressive treatment if the cancer has metastasized. If it is not treated, wandering cancerous skin cells can travel through the body and create additional tumors in other organs or systems.

Any kind of skin cancer, squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, or melanoma, should be treated as soon as it is discovered in order to prevent metastasis.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is a very common type of skin disorders but is very dangerous also. Basal cell carcinomas enlarge slowly and steadily and can invade neighboring tissue, like the eye, but they usually do not spread to distant parts of the body (metastasize). Basal cell carcinomas are the result of sun damage to the skin.

Risk factors:

Age. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun’s damaging effects begin at an early age. Therefore, protection should start in childhood in order to prevent skin cancer later in life.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation in tanning booths. Tanning booths are very popular, especially among adolescents, and they even let people who live in cold climates radiate their skin year-round.

Therapeutic radiation, such as that given for treating other forms of cancer.

Causes

Skin cancer is divided into two major groups: non-melanoma and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer, and is the most common form of cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, 75% of all skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas.

Arsenic exposure: Chronic exposure to arsenic is associated with BCC development. Exposure may be medicinal, occupational, or dietary.

Immunosuppression: Immunosuppression is associated with a modest increase in the risk of BCC.

Xeroderma pigmentosum: This autosomal-recessive disease predisposes people to rapid aging of exposed skin, starting with pigmentary changes and progressing to BCC.

Exams and Tests

Your doctor will check your skin and look at the size, shape, color, and texture of any suspicious areas.

If skin cancer is a possibility, a piece of skin will be removed from the area so that is can be examined under a microscope. This is called a skin biopsy. This must be done to confirm the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma or other skin cancers. There are many types of skin biopsies. The exact procedure depends on the location of the suspected skin cancer.

Treatment

Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs. If a melanoma has spread, chemotherapy can be used, but it is not usually effective. After a melanoma has spread, surgery and radiotherapy can be used on the secondary tumours. This will prolong life but it is not a cure. In the case of disease that has spread (metastasized) further surgical or chemotherapy may be required.

Mohs surgery: Mohs surgery (or Mohns micrographic surgery) is an outpatient procedure in which the tumor is surgically excised and then immediately examined under a microscope. The base and edges are microscopically examined to verify sufficient margins before the surgical repair of the site. If the margins are insufficient, more is removed from the patient until the margins are sufficient. Specially trained dermasurgeons do this procedure, usually in-office. Mohs surgery is the recommended procedure for basal cell carcinoma of the face, ears, hands, fingers, distal forearms, and distal lower extremities. Its use is also highly recommended for squamous cell carcinoma; however, the cure rate is not as high as Mohs surgery for basal cell carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of all cancers. Learn more about BCC. Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: www. healthguru. com

A basal cell carcinoma skin cancer is the result of sun damage to the skin. The cancer tends to enlarge in a slow and steady pattern. It has the capability to spread to the tissue nearby. However, it cannot spread to the distant part of the body.

The best and the only way to detect this cancer is to go for a biopsy. The procedure involves removal of a small piece of the skin and letting a pathologist analyze it under the microscope in a medical laboratory.

The process does not work towards removing the cancer. It only takes off at the top just like the tip of an ice berg. Sometimes, the skin works towards healing once the biopsy is done as it starts growing over the cancer.

Now, this does not indicate that the cancer is gone. It just means that the cancer is covered with a layer of skin. In case, the cancer is not eliminated completely, it can get deep in to the skin and results in greater harm.

Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer is the most common type of cancer existing in the world. This cancer can be quite destructive and even disfiguring. It consists of the risk of developing serious skin problems.

People with family history of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer are more vulnerable to developing this disease. Also people who have exposed themselves to sunlight or exposed to carcinogenic chemicals such as arsenic are at greater risk of developing this disease.

The treatment of this dangerous disease is either via surgery, topical chemotherapy, cryosurgery, or photodynamic therapy. The disease is not life threatening. However, if left untreated, the disease can disfigure the skin, results in bleeding and even result in local destruction in areas such as eye, ear, nose and lip.

There are several types of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer as mentioned below:

a) Nodular

This appears as flesh colored papule with telangiectasis. In case, it becomes ulcerates, it

results in ‘rodent ulcer’. It is an ulcerating nodule with a pearly border.

b) Cystic

This is a rare type of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer and very difficult to distinguish from the nodular type. It has a cavity in the centre with fluid.

c) Pigmented

This is another variant of the nodular type of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer. This should not confuse with melanoma.

d) Sclerosing

It is a scar like lesion.

e) Superficial

This type of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer appears as a red scaling patch.

Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer may look different from normal skin. It may also appear as skin bump or a growth that looks pearly, waxy, white, light pink, flesh colored, brown or even flat.

Here are some symptoms of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer:

- A skin sore that may bleed easily

- A sore that does not heal properly

- Sore with crusting or oozing spots

- Sore just like a scar without an injured area.

- Irregular blood vessels around the spot

Rush to a skin doctor as soon as you observe some of the above symptoms.

How to identify the signs of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer in this free health care video. Expert: Dr. Susan Jewell Bio: Dr. Susan Jewell is a trained doctor and scientist in clinical research medicine, as well as a stem cell scientist in oncology and AIDS/HIV. Filmmaker: Susan Jewell

How to recognize the signs of melanoma carcinoma skin cancer in this free health care video. Expert: Dr. Susan Jewell Bio: Dr. Susan Jewell is a trained doctor and scientist in clinical research medicine, as well as a stem cell scientist in oncology and AIDS/HIV. Filmmaker: Susan Jewell

This type of skin cancer is very rare, occurring just below the skin or more often in the hair follicles. It is more common amongst people over sixty or people who have had organ transplants. The feeling is that because of the drugs that are necessary to take to suppress the immune system, so that the transplanted organ will not be rejected, this cancer is able to get a foothold. It is a fast spreading cancer and so needs to be caught early to have a good outcome.

Its appearance is somewhat different than the other skin cancers. This one comes out in nodules, or tumors, that are shiny and dense. They can be anywhere from a half inch to two inches in size and appear bluish, pink or red. Like many of the other skin cancers Merkel cell carcinoma is more likely to appear on the head or neck. Half the cases diagnosed will be there. A third of the remaining cases are found on the arms and legs.

If Merkel cell carcinoma is suspected your health care provider will do a physical. Then they will want to do a complete family history. They will need your personal medical history as well. Allergies to medications, and even your preferences to treatment will all be discussed.

Merkel call carcinoma is a tricky cancer to treat, as it often resembles other cancers. A biopsy is necessary to determine what it is. When your physician examines you, they will check your lymph nodes for swelling, and will do blood work to check blood cell counts. The doctor will also conduct a liver function test and may suggest a CT scan. All of this together will help your physician be able to make a proper diagnosis.

If Merkel cell carcinoma is confirmed the first step in treatment is surgery. The tumor must be surgically removed, as must some healthy tissue around it. If there are reasons that the tumor cannot be removed then the next step will be to use radiation therapy or chemotherapy to attempt to shrink the tumor. Tests will also be done to investigate the nearby lymph nodes. If there is any fear of the cancer having spread to the lymph nodes they will be removed as a preventative measure.

Radiation treatment may be chosen as the treatment plan. This therapy uses x-rays at a higher than normal energy to shrink or hopefully kill cancerous tumors. This therapy is used either of two ways. Either a machine is used to deliver the radiation therapy or radioisotopes are put into the body to fight the cancer. This is called internal radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is drug therapy and uses poisons to kill the cancer, being careful not to use so much that it kills the host as well. This type of therapy is taken either by pills or intravenously.

The most important thing to remember is if you see something that looks wrong, or wasn’t there before see your physician immediately, it could save your life.