Age over 50: Most SCCs appear in people over age 50. Fair skin: People with fair skin are at an increased risk for SCC. Gender: Men are more likely to develop SCC.
The risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is increased among fair-skinned individuals who have repeatedly been exposed to strong sunlight, especially individuals who have light hair and light eyes. Other risks include: Excessive sun exposure. Use of tanning beds.
How widespread is SCC? While SCC is less common than basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the number of reported SCC cases in the U.S. has steadily increased. An estimated 1.8 million cases of SCC are diagnosed each year, which translates to about 205 cases diagnosed every hour.
The earliest form (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) can appear as a scaly, crusted, and large reddish patch that can be larger than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters). A sore that does not heal can be a sign of squamous cell cancer. Any change in an existing wart, mole, or other skin lesion could be a sign of skin cancer.
UV damage to your skin caused by the sun or tanning beds.
This is the most common contributing factor. Indoor tanning can increase your risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 58%1.
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.
What are the most common places for squamous cell carcinoma to occur? Skin: This is by far the most common location. We see more of these every year than all of the others combined. Head and neck: Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck include cancers of the mouth, throat and voice box.
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.
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 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.
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 is most curable in the early stages before it spreads. If it's diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate is approximately 99%.
Though not as common as basal cell (about one million new cases a year), squamous cell is more serious because it is likely to spread (metastasize). Treated early, the cure rate is over 90%, but metastases occur in 1%–5% of cases.
It is estimated that about 2,000 people die from basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer each year. Older adults and people with a suppressed immune system have a higher risk of dying from these types of skin cancer. It is estimated that 7,990 people will die from melanoma in the United States in 2023.
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.
Most squamous cell carcinomas of the skin can be completely removed with relatively minor surgery or occasionally with a medicine applied to the skin. Which treatments are best for you depends on the size, location and aggressiveness of the tumor, as well as your own preferences.
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.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
If left untreated, SCC will metastasize, meaning it will grow or spread, affecting the lymph nodes, organs, and possibly bones. SCC is typically most fatal to older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems, but this does not mean that healthy individuals are completely safe.
It is a rapidly growing tumor which tends to appear suddenly and may reach a considerable size. This tumor is often dome-shaped with a central area resembling a crater which is filled with a keratin plug.
Blood test
Squamous cell carcinoma blood tests typically include a complete blood count (CBC), which looks at the number of red and white blood cells and platelets. Abnormal numbers can be indicative of a problem.
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.
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.
Death from basal and squamous cell skin cancers is uncommon. It's thought that about 2,000 people in the US die each year from these cancers, and that this rate has been dropping in recent years.