There are two main categories of
skin cancer: melanomas and non-melanoma skin cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma
is one of the non-melanoma skin cancers.
A squamous cell carcinoma usually
appears as a scaly or crusty area of skin, with a red, inflamed base. Most
small squamous cell carcinomas are not painful.
The most common cause is too much
exposure to ultra-violet light from the sun or from sun beds.
This causes certain cells
(keratinocytes) in one of the layers of the skin (the epidermis) to grow out of
control into a tumor.
Squamous cell carcinomas can occur
on any part of your body, but are most common on areas that are exposed to the
sun, such as your head and neck (including the lips and ears) and the backs of
your hands.
Squamous cell carcinomas can also
crop up where the skin has been damaged by X-rays, and also on old scars,
ulcers, burns and persistent chronic wounds.
Squamous cell carcinomas are not
contagious.
They can be cured if they are
detected early. But if they are left untreated for too long, a few may spread
to other parts of the body, and this can be serious and painful.
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