http://www.menstuff.org/logos/squamous.jpgSquamous cell carcinoma is a cancer that starts in the squamous cells. These cells are thin, flat, and are found in the tissues that form the surface of the skin. Examples include the lining of hollow organs of the body and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts [2].
More than 250,000 new cases of squamous cell carcinomas are diagnosed every year. A history of significant sun exposure increases the risk. People who are most susceptible are those with fair skin, light hair, and blue, green, or grey eyes. Anyone with a history of basal cell carcinoma or anyone with an inherited UV-sensitive condition are also very susceptible. Squamous cell carcinoma appears in men twice as much as women and rarely appear before the age of 50 [6].
The most common cause of squamous cell carcinoma is chronic exposure to sunlight. Tanning beds and skin injuries are major sources of the cancer. Weakened immune systems from chronic infections and skin inflammations such as HIV, chemotherapy, anti-rejection drugs, and excessive sun exposure, can make it harder to fight off squamous cell carcinomas. Occasionally squamous cell carcinomas arise spontaneously [2].
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