Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin: Therapy

General measures

  • Nicotine restriction (refraining from tobacco use).
  • Limited alcohol consumption (men: max. 25 g alcohol per day; women: max. 12 g alcohol per day).
  • Review of permanent medication due topossible effect on the existing disease.
  • Avoidance of environmental stress:
    • Chronic exposure to heat
    • Occupational contact with carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic, tar, or mineral oils (agricultural or road workers)
    • Exposure to ionizing radiation
    • UV light exposure (solarium)
    • X-ray irradiation
  • Regularly check the skin yourself (regardless of follow-up examinations).

Conventional non-surgical therapy methods

All of the nonoperative procedures listed below are expected to have a higher recurrence rate (recurrence of disease) compared with complete surgical removal of the tumor and should be reserved for individual cases:

  • Curettage (scraping, scraping out) – used in individual cases of basal cell carcinoma in the extremities or trunk.
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT) – in this form of therapy, so-called photosensitizers are first applied to the affected skin area, then this area is intensively irradiated with light; can be performed in individual cases in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
  • Electrodesiccation (“electrosurgical” destruction of narrowly circumscribed superficial tissue areas by high-frequency current).
  • Cryotherapy (icing)
  • Laser therapy
  • Drug treatment with imiquimod (virostatic agent) or 5-fluorouracil (cytostatic agent).

Regular check-ups

Follow-up examinations: should be offered to patients with cutaneous PEK* at risk-adjusted intervals according to the following schedule:

Year 1-2 Year 3-5 years 6-10
Low to medium risk 6-monthly Annual –
High risk 3-monthly 6-monthly Annual

* R0 resection (removal of the tumor in healthy tissue; histopathology shows no tumor tissue in the resection margin).

Vaccinations

The following vaccinations are advised:

  • Flu vaccination
  • Pneumococcal vaccination

Nutritional medicine

  • Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
  • Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet, taking into account the general knowledge of nutrition in a tumor disease. This means:
    • Consume only limited energy-rich foods.
    • Moderate total fat intake
    • Little red meat (pork, beef, lamb, veal) and sausages.
    • Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, ie fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
    • High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
    • Daily total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
    • Reduce consumption of smoked and cured foods, because they contain nitrate or nitrite as a component of curing salt. Their preparation produces compounds (nitrosamines), which are risk factors for various tumor diseases.
    • Refrain from polluted foods such as offal and wild mushrooms.
    • Do not eat moldy food
  • Observe the following special dietary recommendations:
    • Diet rich in:
      • Trace elements (zinc)
      • Omega-3 fatty acids – alpha-linolenic acid (vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables), eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (fresh sea fish once or twice a week, i.e. fatty marine fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel).
      • Probiotic foods (if necessary, dietary supplements with probiotic cultures).
  • Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
  • Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.

Sports Medicine

  • Endurance training (cardio training) and strength training (muscle training).
    • In general, endurance training on a bicycle ergometer can be recommended, which is performed according to the principle of interval training. This means that load phases lasting 1 to 3 minutes alternate with rest phases also lasting 1 to 3 minutes. The training should be performed at about 80% of the maximum heart rate for a total of 30 minutes.
  • Preparation of a fitness or training plan with suitable sports disciplines based on a medical check (health check or athlete check).
  • Detailed information on sports medicine you will receive from us.

Psychotherapy