Almost all cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) can be cured with treatment. When it’s found early and treated properly, it usually doesn’t spread to other parts of the body. But if it does, the cancer can be very serious. If you have metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, it means the cancer has spread from your skin to other organs in your body. This is called stage IV or advanced SCC.
SCC is caused by changes to your DNA that make the cells grow and divide too quickly and create abnormal growths, or tumors. It usually starts in the flat squamous cells that make up the thin layer of tissue on top of the structures that line your skin. It’s more common in light-toned people, but it can develop anywhere on the body.
Signs and symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma can include a rough-feeling bump or growth that looks like a scab, a sore that won’t heal, or an area of the skin that becomes red and scaly. The doctor will examine the lump or growth and may take a small sample for testing.
If the squamous cell carcinoma has not metastasized, it may be treated with surgery or other treatments. The surgeon will remove the cancer and a small amount of healthy tissue around it. The surgeon will also remove any lymph nodes that are nearby. The type of surgery that you have will depend on the location and size of the tumor. The surgery might be surgical excision, Mohs micrographic surgery or another method that uses cutting and stitching techniques.
Other treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In radiation therapy, a doctor will use X-rays to kill cancer cells and healthy tissue that surrounds them. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing. It might be used in addition to surgery or radiation, as part of a clinical trial or for patients who can’t have surgery.
When you’re diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, your doctor will discuss treatment options that can help you live as comfortably as possible. At the OSUCCC – James, you have access to experts in many different areas of medicine, including dermatologists, medical oncologists and surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and geneticists. Our team will recommend the best treatment for you based on your specific needs and medical history, including whether you are at high or low risk of having cancer that comes back. We might even suggest you enter a clinical trial. Clinical trials offer hope for a cancer-free future by finding better ways to prevent, detect and treat your particular disease.
