Ambulance 912HAP 9252
Back to all symptoms and conditions
General health information

Squamous cell skin cancer

Squamous cell skin cancer often develops on sun-damaged skin. A growing scaly, crusted, bleeding or non-healing lesion needs assessment and usually confirmation with a skin biopsy. Early treatment often cures it.

In this article
Choose which sections to read

Squamous cell skin cancer often develops on sun-damaged skin. A growing scaly, crusted, bleeding or non-healing lesion needs assessment and usually confirmation with a skin biopsy. Early treatment often cures it.

  • A growing rough, scaly or crusted lesion that does not heal.
  • A firm pink, red, skin-coloured or darker lump.
  • Take monthly photos of suspicious lesions next to a ruler without delaying medical assessment.
  • Protect the lesion from the sun and do not pick crusts or sores.
  • Make an appointment promptly for a lesion that grows, bleeds, crusts or has not healed after four weeks.
  • For urgent GP care outside office hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediate threat to life.

Your response

Two anonymous questions

Did you find what you were looking for?

Do you now have a clearer idea of your next step?

Share article

Email

Do you need a healthcare provider after reading?

Search by type of care, organisation, name or district.

Further reading

Browse A–Z
K
KeratoacanthomaA keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing skin lesion that often resembles squamous cell skin cancer. Do not treat it yourself or decide to wait based on its appearance alone. A doctor needs to assess whether referral, a biopsy or removal is needed. Rapid growth, bleeding, crusting or a lesion on sun-damaged skin particularly need medical assessment.
B
Bowen's diseaseBowen's disease is squamous cell carcinoma in situ: a very superficial form of skin cancer in which abnormal cells are still confined to the top layer of skin. It often causes a slowly growing, scaly reddish-brown patch that can resemble eczema or psoriasis. A biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. Treatment is important because some patches can progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
S
Skin cancerSkin cancer is a collective name for several malignant skin conditions, including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation play a major role, especially on a sunny island like Curaçao. However, skin cancer can affect every skin tone and does not always look like a dark mole. New, growing, bleeding or poorly healing patches need assessment. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by taking a biopsy or removing tissue for examination.