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Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer in the United States. Skin Cancer Specialists offer diagnostic testing on-site to identify squamous cell carcinoma in the earliest stage when the condition is most treatable. Grant Heinz, MD, and Daniel Skinner, MD, specialize in several minimally invasive treatments, including Mohs surgery to successfully remove squamous cell carcinomas and prevent further complications. Call the Mesa, Arizona, office today to schedule a squamous cell carcinoma consultation.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Q&A
What is squamous cell carcinoma?
Squamous cell carcinoma is a skin cancer that begins in the cells that make up the middle and outer layers of skin.
Exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun or UV lights of a tanning bed can trigger mutations in the squamous cells. These mutations cause abnormally rapid cell growth, forming cancerous lesions or tumors anywhere on the body.
Skin Cancer Specialists provide customized treatment plans for squamous cell carcinoma in adults and children. The skilled physicians take an integrative approach to treat skin cancer and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.
What are the symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma?
Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma typically appear on sun-exposed areas like the lips, ears, scalp, and hands. However, cancerous tissue can develop on any part of the body.
The hallmark symptom of squamous cell carcinoma is a firm bump on the skin that appears pink, brown, red, or black, depending on your skin color. Cancerous growths can also include:
- Flat, scaly patches or sores
- Sores inside the mouth
- Raised skin on an old scar
- Wartlike growths on the genitals or anus
The physicians evaluate your skin and may remove a sample of tissue during a biopsy. They use the on-site laboratory to provide fast diagnostic results to confirm or rule out squamous cell carcinoma or other types of skin cancer.
How is squamous cell carcinoma treated?
The standard treatment for squamous cell carcinoma is the removal of cancerous tissue.
Skin Cancer Specialists offer several minimally invasive procedures to remove superficial cancer cells, including cryosurgery to freeze and destroy cancerous tissue and laser therapy, a treatment that uses heat energy to remove squamous cell carcinomas.
If the area of skin cancer is large, the physicians may recommend Mohs surgery, a procedure to remove cancerous tissue layer by layer until no cancer cells are present. They also offer excision surgery to cut out cancerous tissue and a portion of surrounding healthy tissue.
Chemotherapy and radiation may be necessary to destroy any remaining cancer cells. The staff plastic surgeon can also complete reconstructive surgery to help postsurgical wounds heal without noticeable scarring.
Call Skin Cancer Specialists today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation of squamous cell carcinoma symptoms or book an appointment online.