In the second most common skin cancer, squamous cell carcinomas the older cells are pushed to the surface of the epidermis by the healthy growth of basal cells deep in the skin.This is because of the damage in the underlying skill cells. A lump or a tumor crops up right under the skin. The lump may occur, on the face near the lower lip, on the rars or on the hands. It will be a thickened bump; scaly, red or crusty resemble a wart. On the rim of the ear or lip it will be very aggressive in its growth.It affects more men than women, especially fair skinned persons past their sixty years of age. People living in warmer climate and those exposed to the sun and working out doors are affected with this cancer. But this cancer is less invasive on skin exposed to the sun than the skin that is not sun damaged or not exposed to the sun.
The causes of this cancer include lifetime exposure to the suns harmful rays, use of psoralen or ultra violet A radiation, exposure to radiation from radio therapy, arsenic, the human papilloma virus and smoking.Genetic factors like inheriting the DNA defect called xerodrma pigmentosa where the cells cannot repair themselves have their part in causing squamous cell carcinoma. Albinism is also a cause for this type of skin cancer.
People with wounds, from an injury, or other thermal type burns that do not heal well and persons who have taken anti rejection drugs after a transplant and with a lowered immune system are vulnerable to squamous skin cancer.Similar to basal cell carcinoma, this cancer is treated according to the size, location, grade of the tumor or lesion. The age and health of the patient is also a criterion. Surgery is the treatment. If the area is small and cancer has not spread simple excision is used.
Mohs Technique is used if the cancer is larger, left untreated for along time, or on the eye lid or in the danger of recurring. Here the tumor is removed by slicing it in layers until the healthy layer is reached. Radiation therapy may be given to kill the cancer cells surrounding the area and protect the lymph nodes it risks. It will be a replacement for surgery if the patient is unwilling to accept it. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body chemotherapy is necessary to kill the radical cells.