Risk factors

• Fair skin, blue eyes and blond or red hair
• Actinic keratoses or previous SCC
• Outdoor occupation or recreation
• Smoking

Diagnosis

• Clinical features confirmed by skin biopsy or following excision.
• Patients with high-risk SCC may also undergo staging investigations to determine whether it has spread to lymph nodes or elsewhere.

Treatment

• Surgical excision
• Shave, curettage and cautery for low-risk tumours
• Mohs micrographic surgery
• Radiotherapy

Risks for developing more SCCs

• Patients who already have actinic keratoses or previous SCC
• Patients with multipleSCCs may be prescribed an oral retinoid
• Most SCCs are cured by treatment, but may recur
• 50% develop a second SCC within 5 years of the first