Side Effect: Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer

What is Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer?

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) skin cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the squamous cells, which are found in the outer layer of the skin. It is often caused by UV radiation from the sun, but it can also develop from other factors including chemicals, some chemotherapies, or radiation therapy. While patients with cancer are receiving cancer treatment to fight the primary cancer, it’s essential to be aware of potential side effects including an increased risk of skin cancer.

What does Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer look like?

SCC usually appears as a red, scaly patch, a firm bump, or a sore that doesn’t heal. It might also present like a wart-like growth. Appearance can vary depending on factors like its location on the body and the stage of cancer.

Who gets Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer?

Risk factors for getting SCC include:

• Previous skin cancer
• The total sun exposure in one’s lifetime
• Family history of SCC
• Weakened immune system
• Patient’s who have been exposed to certain medications:
  
  • Immunosuppressants: azathioprine (Imuran®), cyclosporine (Sandimmune®, Gengraf®, Neoral®)
  • Psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy
  • Alkylating agents: cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®), ifosfamide (Ifex®)
  • Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors: cetuximab (Erbitux®), panitumumab (Vectibix®)
  • MEK inhibitors: trametinib (Mekinist®), binimetinib (Mektovi®), cobimetinib (Cotellic®)

How to prevent Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer

Regular skin monitoring and appropriate preventive measures including sunscreen and avoiding sun at peak hours of the day can help alleviate these risks. Wearing protective clothing is another option. Patients with cancer should be aware about these precautions.

How to treat Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer

There are multiple treatment types for SCC. Some include:

• Surgery to remove SCC
• Radiation therapy
• Topical medications: imiquimod (Aldara®), 5-fluorouracil (Efudex®)
• Targeted therapy: EGFR inhibitors, MEK inhibitors
• Immunotherapy: pembrolizumab (Keytruda®), cemiplimab (Libtayo®), nivolumab (Opdivo®)

The choice of treatment depends on the size and location of the tumor, its aggressiveness, and the patient's overall health status, including any ongoing cancer treatments. These treatments may be used alone or in combination with other therapies. Treatment decisions will usually be made by multidisciplinary team including dermatologists, oncologists, and surgeons, based on each patient.