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What Is Squamous Cell Carcinoma

By: Adrian Fletcher Skin cancer seems to be getting a lot of attention of late. There are ad campaigns and public service announcements on television and radio. This may be due to the increased understanding of the disease or that the number of cases are rising and people need education on the subject. There are three types of skin cancer - malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. This article will deal with detecting squamous cell carcinoma.

The early signs of squamous cell carcinoma are a red mark or spot forming on the top of the skin or epidermis. Squamous cell carcinoma is known to spread so the mark may get bigger and develop into an irregular shaped mark of blemish. Eventually the blemish may become scaly or hard. It may develop a lesion and bleed in some cases. If it isn't treated the carcinoma will spread but normal to surrounding skin cells on the surface of the skin.

Another type of squamous skin cancer is called Bowen's disease. It generally occurs in people over sixty and is more common in women. It's typical signs are a large red rash on the surface of the skin. It is slightly elevated from the skin and had a pronounced edge. As it develops the rash will become scaly to the touch and lesions may develop.

A mature squamous cell carcinoma can often look like a large open ulcer on the surface of the skin. It will bleed often and require constant attention. The cancerous cells can form anywhere on the body but are more commonly found in areas that get most exposed to sunlight or other forms of UV rays. So look for them on the face, ears neck, upper back and arms.

People soon spot squamous cell skin cancer on the face as they are very conscious of their appearance. In these cases it is noticed in the early stages and can be treated successfully. Treatment could range from freezing the cancerous cells to excision. It is done in the doctor's surgery and can be a quick as 30 minutes.

You should strive to prevent the disease ever happening to you rather than having to go through treating it. Although preventative methods are no guarantee against getting the disease they can certainly make a difference. Avoid spending too much time in the sun. Your skin type may also make you more susceptible to sun burn and sensitivity to UV radiation.

If you spend a bit of time in the sunshine during recreational activities or maybe your working hours are outdoors then stay protected from UV rays. Wear clothing that shields your skin from the sun. Wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim to protect the face. Wear sunglasses as the eyes can also be sensitive to UV rays. And always cover uncovered parts of the body with a good, high protection factor sunscreen.