What is it?

Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the squamous cells, which make up the middle and outer layers of the skin. It is a common type of skin cancer and is typically not life-threatening. If not treated, however, it can grow large in shape and size and even spread to other parts of the body if it grows too deep into the skin, causing injury to nerves, blood vessels and anything else that comes in its way.

Squamous cell carcinoma is caused by too much ultraviolet light, such as sunlight or tanning beds. It takes the shape of a firm bump—a nodule—on the skin. Symptoms can vary, but things to look out for include a rough, reddish or scaly area, an open sore that won’t heal, a wart-like growth or a sore developing in an old scar. Schedule an appointment with our team if you have a bump that doesn’t heal within two months or the nodule won’t go away.

How is it treated?

To determine if your squamous cell carcinoma has turned into skin cancer, we will examine the area in question. If it looks like it could be cancerous, we’ll move forward with removing a sample for further testing. This quick biopsy would involve your dermatologist numbing the area and removing all (or part) of the spot. The skin that we remove will then be examined to determine if your tissue is benign (normal, non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), what type of squamous cell skin cancer it is and/or whether the cancer has any other features that make it more aggressive or concerning.

Our team has specialized training and certification across skin cancer treatments, including surgical excision, Mohs surgery, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. As part of DOCS Dermatology Group, Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center providers also have access to cutting-edge clinical trials for cancers less responsive to traditional treatment.

Remember: Early detection is critical to a treatment plan.