How does squamous cell carcinoma develop

Cumulative, unprotected exposure to UV radiation is the main cause of SCC as well as a risk factor for most skin cancers. The more time you spend in the sun over your lifetime — from long days at the beach to short periods of unprotected exposure — the greater your likelihood of developing SCC. If you work outdoors or spend extensive leisure or recreation time in the sun, your risk is especially increased.

Your exposure to UV rays is also a risk that you can control. Find out more here. SCCs account for about , of the , cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the U. In the last 30 years, the number of women under age 40 diagnosed with SCC has risen steadily — a statistic that experts also believe is linked to indoor tanning. If your immune system is weakened or suppressed, you are more likely to develop SCC than people with healthy immune systems.

This includes individuals with medical conditions that reduce immune function, including those with HIV, those receiving chemotherapy to treat cancer and those using immunosuppressive medications for autoimmune diseases. For organ transplant recipients on immunosuppressive antirejection drugs, the risk increases dramatically: Transplant patients are about times more likely to develop SCC. Excessive sun exposure also weakens the immune system, further raising the risk of developing SCC and other skin cancers in people with already compromised immune systems.

You also have an elevated risk of developing another SCC or basal cell carcinoma BCC , since sun damage is the primary cause of both forms of skin cancer. The risk of developing SCC increases as you age, and there is a reason why the disease most commonly occurs in people over The longer you live, the more sun exposure and sun damage you accumulate.

Although people of all skin types can develop SCC, people with fair skin — especially individuals with red or blond hair, blue or green eyes or skin that freckles or easily burns — have a heightened risk for the disease.

Sometimes the skin around the tumor gets red and swollen. Squamous cell carcinoma can also occur on the penis or vulva. Squamous cell carcinoma sometimes develops from a precancerous skin growth called an actinic keratosis. The risk of developing this type of skin cancer is increased among fair-skinned and fair-haired people who have repeatedly been exposed to strong sunlight, individuals who had freckles as a child, and those with blue eyes.

Other risk factors include taking immunosuppressants drugs that weaken the immune system and being exposed to industrial pollutants such as arsenic, tar, and industrial oils. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer in the United States, after basal cell carcinoma, with about , diagnosed each year. It accounts for about 2, deaths. Squamous cell carcinoma usually starts out as a small, red, painless lump or patch of skin that slowly grows and may ulcerate. It usually occurs on areas of skin that have been repeatedly exposed to strong sunlight, such as the head, ears, and hands.

The main way to diagnose squamous cell carcinoma is with a biopsy. This involves having a small piece of tissue removed from the suspicious area and examined in a laboratory. In the laboratory, a pathologist will examine the tissue under a microscope to determine if it is a skin cancer. He or she will also stage the cancer by the number of abnormal cells, their thickness, and the depth of penetration into the skin. Radiation Therapy for Melanoma.

Chemotherapy for Metastatic Melanoma. Target Therapy. Melanoma and Skin Cancer Clinical Trials. Patient Support Resources. Squamous Cell Skin Carcinoma. Conditions Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin.

What is Squamous Cell Cancer? There are 5 Stages of Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Stage 0 is Carcinoma in situ This stage is not considered invasive cancer as the abnormal cells are only in the upper layer of the skin, the epidermis. Stage 1 and 2 This stage is determined by how big the cancer is and if there is high-risk features of the tumor.

Stage 3 This stage has spread to areas below the skin, such as into lymph nodes or other local structures like muscle, bone or cartilage Stage 4 This stage has spread to distant sites. Most squamous cell cancer of the skin present as Stage 0 or 1. Squamous cell cancers of the skin can commonly present itself as: Scaly red patches Open sores Elevated growths with a central depression Warts They may crust or bleed. When caught early, most SCCs are curable.

One of three main types of cells in the top layer of the skin the epidermis , squamous cells are flat cells located near the surface of the skin that shed continuously as new ones form. SCC occurs when DNA damage from exposure to ultraviolet radiation or other damaging agents trigger abnormal changes in the squamous cells.

SCCs can appear as scaly red patches, open sores, rough, thickened or wart-like skin, or raised growths with a central depression. At times, SCCs may crust over, itch or bleed. The lesions most commonly arise in sun-exposed areas of the body. SCCs look different on everyone. You can find more images, as well as signs, symptoms and early detection strategies on our SCC Warning Signs page. Please note: Since not all SCCs have the same appearance, these photos serve as general reference for what they can look like.

If you see something new, changing or unusual on your skin, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist.