Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) affects the skin and mucous membranes, commonly appearing on sun-exposed areas like the face, ears, neck, and hands, but can develop anywhere, including inside the mouth, on genitals, or in the lungs, esophagus, and cervix, as it originates from squamous cells lining many surfaces.
They stretch down from the oral cavity into the esophagus and lungs; they can be found in the cervix, anus and bladder, too. Eventually, the surface lining changes, though, and that's where you start getting into adenocarcinomas. Are there any features common to all squamous cell carcinomas?
Metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary is a disease in which squamous cell cancer spreads to lymph nodes in the neck and it is not known where the cancer first formed in the body. Signs and symptoms of metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary include a lump or pain in the neck or throat.
Sun-exposed areas such as the lower lip and ears are most likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells on the skin. It starts in cells called squamous cells.
Squamous cell carcinoma rarely metastasizes (spreads to other areas of the body), and when spreading does occur, it typically happens slowly. Indeed, most squamous cell carcinoma cases are diagnosed before the cancer has progressed beyond the upper layer of skin.
Treatment should happen as soon as possible after diagnosis, since more advanced SCCs of the skin are more difficult to treat and can become dangerous, spreading to local lymph nodes, distant tissues and organs.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses strong medicines to kill cancer cells. If squamous cell carcinoma spreads to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body, chemotherapy can be used alone or with other treatments, such as targeted therapy and radiation therapy. Targeted therapy.
The skin around them typically shows signs of sun damage such as wrinkling, pigment changes and loss of elasticity. SCCs can appear as thick, rough, scaly patches that may crust or bleed. They can also resemble warts, or open sores that don't completely heal.
Over the past 20 years, high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been established as a risk factor for developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, independent of tobacco and alcohol use.
Treatment overview
In July 2021, the FDA expanded this approval to include SCC that is locally advanced and not curable by radiation or surgery. In 2024, the FDA approved cosibelimab-ipdl (UnloxcytTM) for adults with locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma that is not curable with surgery or radiation.
Signs and symptoms of squamous cell skin cancer
They can also develop in scars or skin sores elsewhere. These cancers can appear as: Rough or scaly red (or darker) patches, which might crust or bleed. Raised growths or lumps, sometimes with a lower area in the center.
Location on the Body
Squamous cell carcinomas that develop on high-risk areas of the body tend to behave more aggressively. These areas include the ears, lips, nose, scalp, fingers, and genitals, as well as sites where the skin is already damaged by chronic inflammation, burns, or scars.
Many doctors will order a PET or CT scan once a squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis has been reached to ensure the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body and is contained within the layers of the skin. Your doctor may also test your lymph nodes near the tumor site.
Both basal and squamous cell skin cancers are relatively slow-growing, but the most important difference between squamous cell skin cancer versus basal cell skin cancer is that squamous cell skin cancer is more likely to spread to other organs. If it spreads, it can be life-threatening.
Squamous cell carcinomas appear as red scaly patches, scaly bumps, or open sores. Left alone, they become larger and destroy tissue on the skin. They can also spread to other areas of the body.
Schistosoma haematobium is a proven carcinogenic agent that causes mainly bladder squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer has characteristic epidemiological, clinical and histopathological features with poor prognosis as compared to other urinary bladder cancers not associated with this parasite.
Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma include skin changes like: A rough-feeling, bump or growth, which might crust over like a scab and bleed. A growth that's higher than the skin around it but sinks down (depression) in the middle. A wound or sore that won't heal, or a sore that heals and then comes back.
It's more common in people with lighter skin. In these people, it most often appears on parts of the body exposed to the sun. In people with darker skin, it appears more often on skin that isn't exposed to the sun and in areas where there are scars or ongoing skin problems. Skin cancer is usually treated with surgery.
The majority of squamous cell carcinomas are caused by sun exposure.
Learn more about the symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma and what you can do to keep yourself safe. Fatigue, usually described as feeling tired, weak or exhausted, affects most people during cancer treatment.
The 3 most common forms of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Several skin conditions might be easily mistaken for cancer, including pimples, age spots, moles, skin tags, warts, freckles, eczema, psoriasis, and cherry angiomas.
Limit your exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays
The most important way to lower your risk of basal and squamous cell skin cancers is to limit your exposure to UV rays. Practice sun safety when you are outdoors.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends most SCC be removed as soon as possible after diagnosis; the general timeframe is "within weeks" and can be up to 8 weeks depending on the risk level of the tumor's classification. Some SCCs are classified as lower risk while others are considered more aggressive.
Medication for Squamous Cell Cancer
Chemotherapy drugs are usually given through a vein with intravenous (IV) infusion and may include medications such as cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, or doxorubicin. Doctors usually give chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma once every few weeks, over a period of several months.