Skin cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and solar keratosis

SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer. It mainly affects people with fair skin and blue eyes and, in particular, the elderly.

Squamous cell carcinoma – Description

SCC is a malignant squamous cell tumor and can be found in many parts of the body. SCC in the skin develops from keratinocytes, the type of squamous cells that synthesize the protective keratin of the epidermis.

Squamous cell carcinomas usually occur on areas of skin previously damaged by the sun and at sites of sun-induced actinic keratoses or (sun spots). Its appearance is more varied than basal cell carcinoma (BCC), grows faster, and can metastasize (spread to other tissues in the body) if left untreated, making it more dangerous than BCC.

SCC is usually a well-defined, scaly, red plaque. It can eventually spread to the deeper surrounding tissues.

Invasive SCCs affect the lower dermis and subcutaneous fat and can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. Sometimes they grow quickly, but more commonly they grow slowly over months or years. Unlike BCCs, they can be sensitive. Some SCCs have the appearance of sores that do not heal.

Many SCCs develop from solar keratoses, small scaly patches often found on the face, bald scalp, ears, hands, and forearms of fair-skinned people.

SCC can also develop in long-lasting burn scars and leg ulcers. Oral SCCs are often due to smoking.

Diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

As with all skin cancers, allopathic medical practice is to confirm SCC by biopsy.

Squamous cell carcinoma treatment

Squamous cell carcinoma treatment depends on the size of the tumor, its location, and other factors, such as whether it has metastasized.

Treatment options include:

• curettage (scraping tissue with an instrument), with or without electrodesiccation. (Electrodesiccation uses an electrical spark to destroy tissue)
• cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen)
• surgery
• Moh’s micrographic surgery
• radiation treatment
• chemotherapy

ACTINIC KERATOSES (or SOLAR KERATOSES)

Solar keratoses are premalignant disorders of the epidermis and are becoming more and more frequent. They are small, dry, scaly lesions commonly found on the parts of the body most exposed to the sun: the face, head, the back of the hands, and sometimes the lip (actinic cheilitis).

As with BCC and SCC, chronic sun exposure is the cause of actinic keratoses.

What happens if solar keratoses are not treated? About 2 to 5% of actinic keratoses can develop malignant cells and turn into skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.

Treatment

The conventional treatment is freezing with liquid nitrogen. For large areas, a topical cream containing 5-fluorouracil (brand name Efudex) can be used for several weeks. Fluorouracil is a chemotherapy drug that is applied to the skin. It works by interfering with DNA synthesis.

The unpleasant side effects of fluorourcil, which are redness and scaling of the skin with symptoms of burning and itching, may outweigh the benefits, as this cream can be effective in eliminating generalized solar keratoses.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that it is a chemotherapy drug that affects your DNA. Rarely questioned by doctors, Efudex should not be used by people with a deficiency of the enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). Current research shows that 8% of people have at least a partial deficiency of this enzyme. The possibility of DNA damage is the concern.

But did you know that there are other treatment methods that can help? There are other tried and tested natural substances that can eliminate SCC and other types of skin cancer.

For example, bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). This is the root of a plant that is used as a topical application. Many practitioners don’t know how it works. I have even read articles from experts who claim that the mode of action is unknown. However, research shows that it works by turning off the mitochondria, which is the cancer cell’s source of energy. This effect is profound in the cancer cell, but it does not have the same effect in healthy tissue. Regardless of how it works, bloodroot certainly, and quickly, breaks down a skin cancer tumor. You can safely cure skin cancer such as squamous cell carcinoma using this substance and the correct method.

What happens is very fast; Tiny “dots” of dead white tissue appear literally overnight. Then, an area of ​​necrotic tissue forms over the next few days. Once applications are stopped, this area dries, crusts, and falls off, leaving a new, pink, healthy tissue underneath. All that needs to be done is to stimulate healing as with any minor wound.