Squamous cell carcinoma: Affected skin areas
Squamous cell carcinoma develops mainly on areas of the body that are particularly exposed to the sun (called light or sun terraces) – and here especially on the face (e.g. on the nose). Sometimes the shoulders, arms, back of the hands or transition areas to mucous membranes (e.g. lower lip) are also affected. In people with sparse or no head hair, spinalioma often also forms in the bald area, neck, or at the tips of the ears.
Squamous cell carcinoma: risk factors
UV light and actinic keratosis
The most important risk factor for spinalioma is UV light – and usually via the detour of actinic keratosis (also called solar keratosis). This is a skin change caused by UV radiation, which in very many cases becomes the preliminary stage of a spinalioma. It develops exclusively on sun-exposed areas of the body, and usually in areas of the face, on the backs of the hands or on a bald head.
Typically, actinic keratosis presents as a relatively sharply defined redness that can come and go and feels like fine sandpaper (i.e., somewhat rough). This skin lesion is not malignant, but it often progresses to squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, actinic keratoses should always be treated by a doctor.
Other risk factors
In addition to actinic keratosis, there are other risk factors for spinalioma: skin that has been pre-damaged by certain toxins such as tar, arsenic or soot is at high risk for squamous cell carcinoma. The tongue and mouth are often damaged by chronic tobacco and alcohol use, which favors squamous cell carcinoma in this area.
However, spinalioma can develop not only on such skin damage caused by chemical toxins. In rarer cases, this skin cancer develops from chronic wounds, burn scars or on the basis of other skin diseases.
Squamous cell carcinoma: treatment
Standard therapy for spinalioma is surgical removal of the tumor. Alternatively (for example, if surgery is not possible for medical reasons), doctors resort to other therapeutic methods. These include icing (cryotherapy), local chemotherapy or immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.
You can read more about the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma and its precursor (actinic keratosis) under Skin cancer: Treatment.
Squamous cell carcinoma: chances of cure
However, once metastases are present, the prognosis deteriorates significantly. It is also unfavorable if the patient has a suppressed immune system (immunosuppression) – for example, due to the use of immunosuppressants or an HIV infection. The skin cancer then usually progresses much more aggressively.
About 40 to 50 out of 1,000 spinalioma patients die from the cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma: Aftercare
Even after successful treatment and cure, squamous cell carcinoma can recur. For example, about half of patients develop a second tumor within five years of the initial disease. Therefore, regular follow-up examinations during these five years are very important.
The intervals at which the examinations are useful depend on the individual case. In the first year, quarterly check-ups are usually recommended.
Squamous cell carcinoma: prevention
Be sure to provide adequate protection from the sun, especially for children. Their skin is much more sensitive than that of adults.
However, cancer-promoting UV rays are exposed not only in sunlight, but also on the tanning bed. Therefore, the German Cancer Aid, among others, advises: Refrain from visits to the solarium!
You should heed this advice especially if you have already had squamous cell carcinoma – to reduce the risk of a recurrence.
