Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer that is malignant. It resembles a kind of large wart that causes little to no pain under 1 cm. It occurs in places that are exposed to the sun a lot.

Contents

• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Symptoms
• Phenomena
• Therapy
• Risk factors

Squamous cell carcinoma

About 1 in 10,000 people in the Netherlands suffer from squamous cell carcinoma every year. This type of cancer is the second most common skin cancer. It looks like a red and rough spot that will flake. It can grow larger very slowly but does not cause any complaints. Squamous cell carcinoma can spread to underlying tissue, and in some cases it spreads elsewhere in the body. This form of cancer grows faster than basal cell carcinoma. A basal cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor of a basal cell.

Symptoms

• A lump that feels hard and is getting bigger
• It has a red or reddish brown edge
• An ulcer with a scab that does not heal

Phenomena

Occurs in places where the body is frequently exposed to sunlight. You can also get squamous cell carcinoma on your lips. You can notice it by a white spot on your lip, which becomes thicker and at some point starts to flake. It is always difficult to recognize squamous cell carcinoma, even for doctors who specialize in treating this form of cancer.

Therapy

Operation :
During the operation, it will be agreed exactly which anesthesia or anesthetic is suitable for you, it also depends entirely on the state of health, the size and location of the tumor. During the operation, the squamous cell carcinoma is cut away by 0.5 to 1.0 centimeters.

Radiation :
You may only undergo radiation if you are not eligible for surgery because you are in poor condition. This radiation consists of about 20 to 30 treatments. With this treatment there is no microscopic check to see whether the tumor has completely disappeared.

In case of metastasis :
If you have metastasis, you will be treated by several people who provide care to you.

Risk factors