How serious is a squamous cell skin cancer?

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is usually not life-threatening, though it can be aggressive. Untreated, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can grow large or spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications.

Is SCC worse than melanoma?

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that begins in cells known as melanocytes. While it is less common than basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage.

What is the survival rate of squamous skin cancer?

In general, the squamous cell carcinoma survival rate is very high—when detected early, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. Even if squamous cell carcinoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the cancer may be effectively treated through a combination of surgery and radiation treatment.

Is SCC cancer curable?

Most squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin can be cured when found and treated early. Treatment should happen as soon as possible after diagnosis, since more advanced SCCs of the skin are more difficult to treat and can become dangerous, spreading to local lymph nodes, distant tissues and organs.

What does early stage SCC look like?

Squamous cell carcinoma initially appears as a skin-colored or light red nodule, usually with a rough surface. They often resemble warts and sometimes resemble open bruises with raised, crusty edges.

How fast does SCC cancer spread?

Squamous cell carcinoma rarely metastasizes (spreads to other areas of the body), and when spreading does occur, it typically happens slowly. Indeed, most squamous cell carcinoma cases are diagnosed before the cancer has progressed beyond the upper layer of skin.

How do I know if my squamous cell carcinoma has metastasized?

How to Tell If Squamous Cell Carcinoma Has Spread

1. The tumor is thicker than 2 millimeters.
2. The tumor has grown into the lower dermis or subcutis layers of the skin.
3. The tumor has grown into the nerves in the skin.
4. The tumor is present on the ear or on a hair-bearing lip.

How fast does SCC grow?

Results: Rapidly growing SCC occurred most commonly on the head and neck, followed by hands and extremities, and had an average duration of 7 weeks before diagnosis. The average size of the lesions was 1.29 cm and nearly 20% occurred in immunosuppressed patients.