skin disorders
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Prognosis for Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Typically, the prognosis for small tumors that are removed early and adequately is excellent. Treatment is usually effective, and most people survive. Most squamous cell carcinomas affect only the area around them, penetrating into nearby tissues. However, some spread (metastasize) to distant parts of the body, nearby skin and lymph nodes, and eventually to nearby organs and can be fatal. Tumors that are more than ¾ inch (2 centimeters) in diameter or grow more than 1/8 inch (2 millimeters) deep, or tumors that occur near the ears and lips, in scars, or around nerves are more likely to spread. About one third of cancers on the tongue or elsewhere in the mouth have spread before diagnosis (see Mouth and Throat Cancer ). If the cancer is treated before it spreads, the person is usually cured. However, if the cancer has spread, the chance of surviving the next 5 years, even with treatment, is only 34%. 