Stages of squamous cell carcinoma

As the second most common type of skin cancer, cases of this non-melanoma cancer are particularly widespread in the UK. More than 155,000 people get diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer every year, and squamous cell carcinoma accounts for around 23% of these cases.

Generally caused by too much exposure to UV light, squamous cell carcinoma alters the very DNA of skin cells. While most patients with squamous cell carcinoma are deemed low risk, this type of cancer can spread to other areas of the body (including the lymph nodes) if treatment is delayed.

Identifying the level of spread and a suitable prognosis is vital for all squamous cell carcinoma sufferers. As with many types of cancer, there are numerous stages of squamous cell carcinoma. Here we introduce all five…

Stage 0

As the earliest stage, stage 0 squamous cell carcinoma is of the least concern. At this stage, squamous cell carcinoma only affects the outermost level of the skin or epidermis, which makes the lesions particularly low risk. Stage 0 squamous cell carcinoma is often treated topically as a result.

Stage 1

Stage 1 squamous cell carcinoma penetrates the skin more deeply. While it has not spread to other parts of the body yet, the risk of spread increases as the size of the tumour and its growth into the dermis progresses.

Stage 2

Stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma also presents deeper growth into the skin, with the lower layers and the nerves generally affected. This makes the cancer higher risk. While the tumour has grown deeper, the spread remains localised and has not reached nearby lymph nodes, tissues or other body parts.

Stage 3

At this stage, the squamous cell carcinoma will have made its way into nearby lymph nodes. This is however as far as the spread goes, with organs and other parts of the body untouched by the disease.

Stage 4

The most serious stage, stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma has spread to one or more parts of the body. This could be distant organs (such as the brain, liver and lungs) or other tissues.

The survival rate for squamous cell carcinoma remains extremely high, yet the spread during stage 4 means it is likely that you’ll need more intensive treatment. The use of surgery and radiation are common amongst stage 4 patients.

For further advice and support with squamous cell carcinoma staging and treatment, please contact us today.