Cancers could be life-threatening if not treated at the right stage. Squamous cell carcinoma is one such types of cancer that when treated at an early stage can be cured easily. This skin cancer usually develops into rounded skin tumors and sometimes can also occur on the penis too.

After basal cell carcinoma, SCC is the second common type of skin cancer in the US with more than 7, 00,000 diagnosed every year. It reports 2,500 deaths. Generally, squamous cell carcinoma starts out as a tiny, red painless patch of skin that grows at a slow rate but it might ulcerate as the time passes by. It affects areas of skin that have been exposed to strong sunlight such as: ears, hands and head.

The risk of developing skin cancer is increased among fair-haired people who have been highly exposed to sunlight or those who had freckles as a child and ones with blue eyes. There are some other risk factors as well such as: drugs, being in exposure to industrial pollutants like; tar, industrial oils etc.

Through a biopsy procedure, this skin cancer can be diagnosed at ease. This involves a tiny tissue removed from the suspicious area and further to be studied in a biopsy lab. A pathologist would check the tissue with the help of a microscope to find out if it is skin cancer or not. If it found to reach a higher stage, there is a greater chance it could to other body parts.

Most of the squamous cell carcinomas can be easily cured when treated at a first stage. There are plenty of ways to treat this cancer that has not yet spread the body. They are here as under:

• Removing cancer and a little amount of tissue around it. If a big area of the skin is taken away, a skin graft may be required here.

• Cancer is removed with a surgical tool. An electric probe is used to destroy the cancerous cells.

• With the help of liquid nitrogen, cancers cells are frozen. This procedure is only utilized for small tumors that look unusual but not cancerous in nature.

• With radiation therapy, the tumor is destroyed successfully.

• Cancer is shaved, one thin layer at one point of time. Each and every layer is scrutinized in the biopsy laboratory under the microscope.

• Application of drugs over the skin or injecting them into the affected area.

• A narrow laser beam is used to kill cancer.

Once the skin cancer treatment is finished, it is essential to have regular follow up tests. For the first year, your doctor may want you to visit him every 3 months. In case, if the squamous cell carcinoma has widened beyond the initial tumor site, radiation therapy would be on your rescue. Widespread metastases do not really respond to chemotherapy.

Thus, if you face any such symptoms of skin cancer make sure to see the doctor so you can save yourself from the harm.