Squamous cell carcinoma how does it spread

This is the first immunotherapy approved for those who have an SCC that has advanced to a point that it would otherwise be very challenging to treat.

Hanke: There are a number of treatments for small and early SCCs, including freezing, scraping or excisional surgery. For other SCCs, your doctor may recommend Mohs surgery , which is done in stages and looks at all the edges of the tissue to make sure all the cancerous cells are removed. This lab work is done while the patient waits. For an SCC that has recurred or is larger, the cure rate is a little lower.

Hanke: Exposure to ultraviolet UV rays from the sun over time causes DNA damage in your skin cells that can lead to skin cancer. Sometimes precancerous lesions form called actinic keratoses , or AKs. But what happens when an SCC does spread? At times, SCCs may crust over, itch or bleed.

The lesions most commonly arise in sun-exposed areas of the body. SCCs look different on everyone. You can find more images, as well as signs, symptoms and early detection strategies on our SCC Warning Signs page. Please note: Since not all SCCs have the same appearance, these photos serve as general reference for what they can look like. If you see something new, changing or unusual on your skin, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist.

A persistent, scaly red patch with irregular borders that sometimes crusts or bleeds. An elevated growth with a central depression that occasionally bleeds. It may rapidly increase in size. While the majority of SCCs can be easily and successfully treated, if allowed to grow, these lesions can become disfiguring, dangerous and even deadly. Untreated SCCs can become invasive, grow into deeper layers of skin and spread to other parts of the body.

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