What Is Squamous Cell Skin Carcinoma Skin Cancer?

A squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer is a type of skin cancer that usually results from a long term sun damage or exposure to ultra-violet rays to the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer spreads gradually and also has the capacity to spread to tissues near the affected area such as the eye. The cancer can also spread to distant parts of the body in case, it is not treated on time.The best and the only way to make sure if a skin growth is cancerous is to go for a biopsy. The process involves removal of a small section of the skin. Thereafter a pathologist analyzes it under the microscope in a medical laboratory.Remember that a biopsy is not a process to remove cancer. It just works towards taking off the tip of the cancer.In some cases the skin tends to heal once the biopsy is done as it grows over the cancer. However, this does not indicate that the cancer is removed completely. Here, the cancer is only covered with a blanket of skin. In case, the cancer is not removed fully, it can get deeper in to the skin and even metastasize to the internal organs of the body resulting in death of a human being.Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer is known to be one of the most common forms of skin cancer. It is shocking but true that over 25,000 new cases have been reported in a year in the United States alone. The cancer originates from the squamous cells that are most of the portion of the upper layer of the skin.All cases of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer are not serious. If detected early and treated promptly, one can easily survive this disease. However, if not treated properly, the disease can prove to be very hard to treat and can even result in disfigurement.There are several causes of the origination of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer. Some of these include the following:

1. Frequent and long exposure to harmful sun rays. This result in severe skin damage and ultimately develop in to squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer.
2. The damage to the skin done by sun is the most responsible factor for development of this type of cancer. The face is most exposed to sun and the cancer spreads to the other parts of the body.
3. Light skinned people have greater risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer.
4. People who have already developed this cancer are said to develop more.

Chronic exposure to the sun is the main cause of this type of cancer. The tumor invades to body parts such as face, neck, bald scalp, hands, shoulders, arms and back that are more exposed to sun. The lower lip and the rim of the ear are more vulnerable to these cancers.Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer may also develop due to certain types of injury such as scars, burns, long existing sores, sites exposed to X-rays or some harmful chemicals, such as arsenic of by-products of petroleum. Reduced immunity is also one of the main reasons for the spread of this type of cancer. Detect and treat early to stay away from possible damage and full recovery.

Source by ezinearticles.com