squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell cancer occurs when cells in the skin start to change. The changes may begin in normal skin or in skin that has been injured or inflamed. Most skin cancers occur on skin that is regularly exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation. Skin cancer is most often seen in people over age 50.

Risks for squamous cell skin cancer include:

Invasive SCCs are usually slowly-growing, tender, scaly or crusted lumps. The lesions may develop sores or ulcers that fail to heal.

Most SCCs are found on sun-exposed sites, particularly the face, lips, ears, hands, forearms and lower legs.

They vary in size from a few millimetres to several centimetres in diameter. Sometimes they grow to the size of a pea or larger in a few weeks, though more commonly they grow slowly over months or years.