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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Nasir Aziz, MD
Protecting Your Skin From Skin Cancer
AllPhases Dermatology, LLC
. https://www.allphasesdermatology.com/

Protecting Your Skin From Skin Cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a cancer of keratinocytes, or skin cells. The cancer usually presents as a firm, skin-colored, occasionally red or yellow, somewhat elevated spot. The surface is usually rough and crusted and can ulcerate. Although SCC usually occurs on the skin, it may also appear on the mucous membranes such as the lips or genitals.

These skin cancers often go unnoticed because they usually do not hurt or itch. They may occasionally bleed when accidentally traumatized such as during shaving. Although only about one-fifth as frequent as the most common skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma, SCC is the second most common skin cancer, accounting for 10% to 20% of skin cancers in the elderly. It is responsible for the majority of deaths among non-melanoma skin cancer patients because of its relative tendency to recur and metastasize.

SCC affects men 23 times more frequently than women and increases in incidence after the age of 40 years. The incidence has doubled in the last 40 years, to an estimated 105 cases per 100,000 individuals annually.

There are many different causes of SCC. Factors include genetic predisposition, chronic sunlight exposure, chemical and environmental exposures, old burn scars, a suppressed immune system, human papillomavirus infection (HPV), and importantly, alcohol and tobacco use. Although SCC may arise from previously normal skin, it more commonly arises from precancerous lesions such as actinic keratosis (AK).

An AK presents as a scaly pink skin-colored spot on a sun-exposed area such as the face, scalp or backs of hands. It is a result of a series of progressive sun induced changes that alters the nature of the skin cells. Studies have shown that the risk of a single AK transforming into SCC ranges from 0.24% to 13%, which is enough to warrant removal.

Although SCC's remain confined to the outer layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis) for long periods of time, they can metastasize if left untreated. Therefore, all lesions require prompt treatment. First, a biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis of SCC. If positive, surgical removal is the treatment of choice. Most patients presenting with primary skin-limited SCC have an excellent prognosis. The current reported incidence of metastasis is about 2% to 6% because practitioners are performing more extensive skin tumor surgery.

If the cancer has metastasized, the long-term prognosis is poor. Ten-year survival rates are less than 20% for patients with regional lymph node involvement and less than 10% with distant metastases. Therefore, the goal is to detect these skin cancers early and initiate treatment before they can affect overall survival.

So, if you're constantly exposed to the sun, either in summer or winter months, you need to get checked by a dermatologist. If someone in you family has had skin cancer, you should be checked as well. Regular skin checks for people at higher risk are critical for early detection. But, in reality, everyone should have a skin check on a regular basis.

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