Systemic chemotherapy is not widely used for treating squamous cell carcinoma. In most cases, the cancer cells are confined to one area of skin and, if detected early, can be effectively addressed with localized treatments, such as surgery.
Most cases of skin cancers are basal cell or squamous carcinomas and may be treated in a dermatologist's office or with outpatient surgery. But more aggressive skin cancers, such as melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma, usually require more extensive treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
One drug that is commonly used for topical chemotherapy to treat squamous cell carcinoma is fluorouracil (5-FU). This drug is: Available in cream or lotion form. Applied by a patient at home over the course of approximately three to six weeks.
Mohs surgery is the most effective technique for removing SCCs, sparing the greatest amount of healthy tissue while achieving the highest possible cure rate – up to 97 percent for tumors treated for the first time.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is usually not life-threatening, though it can be aggressive. Untreated, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can grow large or spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications.
Most (95% to 98%) of squamous cell carcinomas can be cured if they are treated early. Once squamous cell carcinoma has spread beyond the skin, though, less than half of people live five years, even with aggressive treatment.
In general, the squamous cell carcinoma survival rate is very high—when detected early, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. Even if squamous cell carcinoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the cancer may be effectively treated through a combination of surgery and radiation treatment.
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.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Early Stages
At first, cancer cells appear as flat patches in the skin, often with a rough, scaly, reddish, or brown surface. These abnormal cells slowly grow in sun-exposed areas.
Muscle cramps, skin rash, fatigue, decreased appetite, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are some of the side effects associated with the medications used to treat advanced basal and squamous cell cancers.
For small, early SCCs that have not spread, excisional surgery is frequently the only treatment required. For advanced SCCs, the physician will most likely recommend additional treatments following removal of the tumor.
When caught promptly, almost all squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin can be successfully treated. But when they become more advanced, these skin cancers can become dangerous. That's why it's important to be on the lookout for any SCC warning signs, including new, changing or unusual skin growths.
Chemotherapy: This is a combination of powerful drugs used to kill cancer cells. It's recommended more often with stage III. Chemo is usually only an option for stage IV if other treatments haven't worked.
One drug that is commonly used for topical chemotherapy to treat squamous cell carcinoma is fluorouracil (5-FU). This drug is: Available in cream or lotion form. Applied by a patient at home over the course of approximately three to six weeks.
Squamous cell skin cancer is highly treatable when found early. A board-certified dermatologist can often treat an early squamous cell skin cancer in the office.
Stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma
In stage 2, the cancer is larger than 2 centimeters across, and has not spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes, or a tumor of any size with two or more high risk features.
In general, the squamous cell carcinoma survival rate is very high—when detected early, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. Even if squamous cell carcinoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the cancer may be effectively treated through a combination of surgery and radiation treatment.
On average, most people will recover within two to four weeks after treatment to remove cancer from their body. Your healthcare provider will meet with you a few weeks after treatment to make sure your body is healing properly and to make sure treatment was successful at removing cancer.
If left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can spread to nearby lymph nodes, bones or distant organs (such as the lungs or liver). Normal squamous tissue usually appears flat. When this tissue develops cancer it can appear as round masses that are can be flat, raised, or ulcerated.
Although squamous cell carcinoma can be more aggressive than basal cell cancer, the risk of this type of cancer spreading is low—as long as the cancer is treated early, Dr. Leffell says. He notes that the lesions must be treated with respect because they may grow rapidly and invade deeply.
Yes, squamous cell carcinoma can make you feel tired. It can make a person feel weak and exhausted. During the treatment procedures of squamous cell carcinoma, the patient tends to feel more tired. These types of fatigue that are related to cancer are known as cancer-related fatigue (CRF).
Basal or squamous cell skin cancers may need to be removed with procedures such as electrodessication and curettage, surgical excision, or Mohs surgery, with possible reconstruction of the skin and surrounding tissue. Squamous cell cancer can be aggressive, and our surgeons may need to remove more tissue.
“Aggressive SCC” or “high-risk SCC” is cancer that is more likely to recur (return after initial treatment) or metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). Features of high-risk SCC are: Larger than 2 centimeters (cm) Deeper than 2 millimeters (mm)
The key warning signs are a new growth, a spot or bump that's getting larger over time, or a sore that doesn't heal within a few weeks. (See Signs and Symptoms of Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer for a more detailed description of what to look for.)