Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most commonly occurring type of skin cancer. It appears most frequently in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight, such as the face, nose, ears, lips, neck, and back of the hands. Squamous cell carcinomas can present as rough, scaly, red patches; wart or horn-like lesions; or tender, crusted growths. They can arise from pre-cancerous growths called actinic keratoses. They can also arise from areas of chronic inflammation or injury. While most squamous cell carcinomas can be cured, these skin cancers can be deadly if left untreated. Treatments are typically surgical and include electrodesiccation and curettage (scraping and applying heat to the skin cancer site), excision, and Mohs surgery. In some instances, squamous cell carcinomas can also be treated with cryotherapy (use of liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin cancer), topical medications, photodynamic therapy (PDT), or radiation.
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