What is Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
SCCs arise due to chronic exposure of ultraviolet light. In most cases these skin cancers start from sunspots, also known as solar keratoses.
All SCCs are invasive and have a risk of spreading to other parts of the body (unlike Basal cell carcinoma), especially if left to grow for a long time, or if found in a highly exposed area such as the scalp or face. Surgery is the standard of care.
In-situ SCC
Also known as intraepidermal carcinoma (IEC) or Bowen’s disease, this is an early form of SCC where the cancerous cells are limited to the top layer of the skin. While this means theoretically they cannot spread to other parts of the body, there is a risk of developing into an invasive SCC so treatment is essential. Various options are available and surgery is not always required. Talk to us at Q Dermatology about possible treatment options.