The thin, fish scale-like flat cells present in the visible skin tissue are named squamous cells. Any cancer in these cells is called squamous cell cancer or squamous cell carcinoma. Over exposure to sunlight may lead to this skin cancer. The skin can get melanoma or non-melanoma cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma is non-melanoma skin cancer causing signs of redness, rough bumps on the face, ears, arms, neck, and other body parts.
Causes of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the squamous cells of skin tissue, which causes squamous cell carcinoma, may form either in normal or in injured skin. The causes of squamous cell carcinoma include:
- Excessive exposure to sunlight. UV radiations may cause signs of this type of malignancy.
- Constant use of tanning beds. These cause a growing risk of advanced signs of squamous cell carcinoma.
- Injured skin is at the highest risk. People at the highest risk of growing signs of squamous cell carcinoma are those who have injured skin tissues such as burns or cuts.
- Chronic skin infections can also cause this non-melanoma cancer or signs of squamous cell carcinoma.
- Heredity is a factor. Normal cells may have tendencies of growing into carcinoma as some studies say the cause may be inherited.
Signs of This Type of Carcinoma
Important signs of squamous cell carcinoma include red patches or rough-looking swollen bumps in the skin. The affected area may show signs of tumors or tumor-forming ulcers near the lips, back of the head, scalp, or the outer ear. Sometimes, intermittent bleeding may occur from the tumors in and around the lips.
Treatments for Squamous Cell Carcinoma
On noticing signs of squamous cell carcinoma or signs of non-melanoma skin cancer, visit a doctor for diagnosis and tests. In case these confirm presence of this disease, begin immediate treatment. These are some treatments used for squamous cell carcinoma.
- Excision/surgery: These treatments cut out the cancerous tissue and then stitch together the remaining skin. This is a common method for treating minor squamous cell cancers.
- Curettage and desiccation: The affected skin cell is scooped out or scraped off and an electric current passed to destroy any remaining cancerous cells.
- Cryosurgery: This surgery of the squamous cell cancer uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the affected area and kill the abnormal cancer cells.
- Radiation treatments: Radiation treatments are available for treating squamous cell carcinomas present in areas where surgery is difficult or impossible.
- Medical treatments: Using anti-cancer creams to attack the skin cancer cells is another treatment method for signs of squamous cell carcinoma. These creams are applied several times on the affected areas. However, as these have numerous disadvantages, they are rarely advised.
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