Australian research into skin cancer has uncovered a jump in cases of a potentially deadly condition that’s rarely highlighted. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common non-melanoma skin cancer that is usually not dangerous and easily treated.
But a new PhD study, published in the medical journal Pathology, reports a doubling in the number of deaths from SCC in recent years. The study, led by the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Dr Andrew Dettrick, describes the increase as an “epidemic”.
Dr Dettrick believes the fact that SCC is so common and usually harmless has created a complacent attitude towards it.
“Non-melanoma skin cancer is often trivialised because of its high prevalence combined with easy treatment for the majority of tumours,” Dr Dettrick said. But in some cases, he said, things can quickly worsen. This happens “once the cancer has advanced locally or spread to lymph nodes,” he said.
“There is a subgroup of squamous cell carcinoma that is associated with a high risk of metastasis and death. The real extent is unknown because, unlike melanoma, the pathologies of these cancers are not recorded on Australian cancer registries.”
This lack of reporting, Dr Dettrick said, is due to the huge number of cases treated across clinics and hospitals. Without reporting, monitoring any changes in SCC death rates becomes extremely difficult. But Dr Dettrick and his team used data collected from the Australian Bureau of Statistics to gain some insight.
The team’s analysis showed deaths from the disease have almost doubled in the past 20 years.
A hidden SCC epidemic
Does the new research point to a need for medical and governmental authorities to reevaluate their approach towards SCC? That’s a reasonable question.
A scan of various government advisory websites betrays what could be interpreted as a lack of urgency about the condition. On the federal government’s Cancer Australia website, SCC is reduced to a footnote on its cancer statistics page. The footnote reads: “BCC [basal cell carcinoma] and SCC, the most common skin cancers, are not notifiable diseases in Australia and are not reported in the Australian Cancer Database.”
On the government’s Health Direct website, which provides free health advice, the wording around SCC is at first quite casual. “Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common forms of skin cancer. SCC is not as dangerous as melanoma, but it can spread to other parts of your body if not treated.”
This is then followed by: “Every year, people in Australia die from aggressive SCCs.”
That last sentence calls into question the preceding one. If people in Australia are dying from SCCs, can they really be described accurately as “not as dangerous as melanoma”?
This is not to suggest Australians should be panicking about SCCs, but the wording could perhaps be altered slightly. Something along the lines of, “… is usually not as dangerous as melanoma” or “… not as dangerous in most cases”, might convey a more appropriate message, promoting an attitude of “be alert, not alarmed”.
What should you do?
As Dr Dettrick points out: “The prognosis is excellent for the majority of patients with this skin cancer.” He said cure rates are between 91 and 95 per cent following localised removal. But key to those high cure rates is early detection. “Identifying it [SCC] early, before it has metastasised, is critical,” Dr Dettrick said.
Familiarising yourself with some of the symptoms of SCC is a good start. The Health Direct website advises, the first sign of an SCC is usually a thickened, red, scaly spot on your skin that doesn’t heal. From the website: “You are most likely to find an SCC on the back of your hands, forearms, legs, scalp, ears or lips. If it’s on your lips, it can look like a small ulcer or patch of scaly skin that doesn’t go away.”
SCC can also take on any of the following forms:
- a crusted sore
- a small ulcer or thickened scaly skin on the lips
- a patch of skin that’s sore
- a firm, red lump
- a sore or rough patch inside your mouth
- a red, raised sore around your anus or genitals.
If you’re not sure or have any concerns, advice from your GP is recommended.
Have you had any skin cancers? Were any identified as SCCs? What treatment was required? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: Cancer rates in Australia are the world’s worst
Disclaimer: This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.
I think the key as you say is regular checkups in managing skin cancer. However lack of sun exposure (best when your shadow is no longer than your height) is statistically the biggest factor in effecting longevity. Good regular sun gives on average 10 more years of life compared to little or no exposure. It is the single biggest thing you can do for yourself to live longer. It produces nitric oxide in your body – essential to reduce cardiac and arterial inflammation.