Staph. Infections

Your doctor will first perform a physical exam and inspect any abnormal areas for signs of cSCC. They’ll also ask you about your medical history. If cSCC is suspected, your doctor may decide to take a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

A biopsy usually involves removing a very small portion of the affected skin. The skin sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing.

In some cases, your doctor may need to remove a larger part or all of the abnormal growth for testing. Talk with your doctor about any potential scarring or biopsy concerns.

After receiving treatment for cSCC, be sure to attend all follow-up visits with your doctor. It’s possible for the cancer to return, so it’s critical to check your skin for any signs of cancer or precancer at least once per month.

Treatment for cSCC varies. Treatment is based on:

the extent and severity of your cancer

your age

your overall health

the location of the cancer

If cSCC is caught early, the condition can usually be successfully treated. It becomes harder to cure once it has spread. Many treatments can be performed as in-office procedures. Treatments may include:

Mohs micrographic surgery. In Mohs surgery, your doctor uses a scalpel to remove the abnormal skin and some of the surrounding tissue. The sample is immediately examined under a microscope. If there are any cancer cells in the sample, the process is repeated until no cancer cells are found.

Excisional surgery. During excisional surgery, your doctor removes the cancer cells as well as a thin layer of healthy skin in the surrounding area. Stitches are used to close the wound. The sample is then sent to a laboratory to ensure the entire cancerous area has been removed.

Electrosurgery. Also called electrodesiccation and curettage, electrosurgery involves scraping off the cancer and burning the skin to kill cancer cells. This process is typically done more than once to ensure thorough treatment and complete removal of the cancer.

Cryosurgery. During cryosurgery, your doctor uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the cancerous tissue. Like electrosurgery, this treatment is repeated multiple times to make sure all cancerous tissue has been eliminated.

Radiation. With radiation, high energy X-rays kill cancer cells. This treatment is administered externally by a machine, which aims the rays at the affected area. Radiation is often performed multiple times a week for several weeks.

Photodynamic therapy. Also known as PDT, photodynamic therapy involves the application of a photosensitizing substance to the cancerous areas. After 1 to 3 hours or longer, the areas that were medicated are exposed to strong light for several minutes. This activates the medication that was applied and kills abnormal cells.

Systemic drugs. Several types of systemic drugs are FDA approvedTrusted Source to treat cSCC, including cemiplimab-rwlc (Libtayo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Systemic drugs act on your whole body and are often used for aggressive cSCC.