Published Sep 27, 2024

29-Year-Old Mom Dismissed Spot On Her Face As ‘Blocked Pore,’ She Was Later Diagnosed With Squamous Cell Carcinoma— Knowing the Signs of Skin Cancer & Dangers of Sunbeds

Details
Transcript
Save This Video

Understanding Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Australian mom Lauren Smyth, 29, is sharing her skin cancer story after a spot on her face she dismissed as a “blocked pore” turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer. It forms in squamous cells just beneath the skin’s outer surface, typically indicated by hard, red bumps or scaling flat lesions. It can also present as an ulcer or induration that bleeds. While SCC often grows slowly, it’s more likely to spread to other tissues and organs, so it cannot be taken lightly.
Tanning beds emit UV rays, increasing your risk of developing skin cancer. Our experts recommend using safer alternatives, like spray tans or sunless tanning lotions, to achieve a bronze look.
For all types of skin cancer, early detection is key.

Lauren Smyth, a 29-year-old mom from Sydney, Australia initially dismissed a spot on her face as a “blocked pore,” but the abnormal blemish turned out to be the second most common type of skin cancer, known as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Squamous cell carcinoma forms in squamous cells just beneath the skin’s outer surface, typically indicated by hard, red bumps or scaling flat lesions. It can also present as an ulcer or induration that bleeds. While SCC often grows slowly, it’s more likely to spread to other tissues and organs, so it cannot be taken lightly.

What You Need to Know About Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Smyth, who recently shared her store with news media group SWNS, as per the Mirror, ultimately found out she had skin cancer after watching a TikTok video of another cancer warrior warning about a similar spot found on her face, which turned out to be cancerous.

The footage prompted Smyth, a mom of two, to get checked by a dermatologist, who took a biopsy of the skin spot. The results revealed she had squamous cell carcinoma.

Smyth, who is now undergoing topical chemotherapy to fight the cancer and prevent it from spreading, told SWNS, “Sunbeds aren’t worth your life – I haven’t touched one in years but once the damage is done, it’s done.”

Lauren Smyth is seen with what she first suspected to be a ‘blocked pore’ ( SWNS)

She noted, referring to back in her early 20s, “If I was going on holiday or coming into summer I’d want a tan, I’d go maybe once a week. I never used them severely but I did use them. When you’re younger you never think anything like this will happen to you.”

Smyth admitted that after looking at old photos from 2020, she noticed tiny spot on her nose, something that never worried her until she watched an informative TikTok video.

When Smyth was told the spot was cancerous by her doctor, she was offered two options— either surgery, which would have seen a significant piece removed from her face, or topical chemotherapy treatments for six weeks.

As for how her treatment is going, Smyth, who is already two weeks into her chemo sessions, explained, “It’s had a big impact. I’m constantly worrying if the cancer will spread, and I’m constantly checking myself for more spots. It keeps me up at night and I even dream about it. I caught mine early and I want to encourage others to go and get any spots checked.”

She urged anyone reading her story, “Don’t use sun beds. You can get the same tan from a bottle in the shop. And I want to share the importance of sun safety, if there was a cream to prevent breast cancer you’d use it. There is a cream to prevent skin cancer, but people don’t wear it daily. And they should.”

WATCH: Top 5 Ways to Help Prevent Skin Cancer

The Dangers of Unsafe Tanning

According to the FDA, indoor tanning beds emit a type of UV ray, and UV exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer. (The sun also emits UV rays)

The National Center for Biotechnology Information published a 2011 study by Yale Cancer Center researchers examining indoor tanning and the risk of early-onset basal cell carcinoma. It concluded tanning beds were a “strong risk factor.

The study’s researchers said young people who tanned indoors had a 69% increased risk of early-onset BCC.

Indoor tanning was strikingly common in our study of young skin cancer patients, especially in women, which may partially explain why 70% of early-onset BCCs occur in females, a researcher Susan T. Mayne said to Yale Daily News.

Meanwhile, the American Academy of Dermatology says that just one indoor tanning session can increase the risk of melanoma by 20% and squamous cell carcinoma by 67%.

A study published recently in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, suggests that banning tanning beds among minors would prevent thousands of cases of melanoma in adolescents and save millions of dollars in healthcare costs.

Studies have shown that exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of skin cancer and ocular cancer, says Dr. Lynn A. Cornelius, chief of the Division of Dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, which also induces changes that lead to premature skin aging. There is no tanning bed.

Dr. Cornelius recommends spray tans and sunless tanning lotions as safer alternatives to tanning beds. While everyone should take precautions not to inhale the product when getting a spray tan, allergic reactions are rare, he said.

Examining Your Skin for Melanoma: Remember ABCDE

All About Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is a type of skin cancer that arises from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the squamous cells. These cells are located in the outer layers of the skin and also line various organs and tracts within the body. SCC is a prevalent form of skin cancer, ranking as the second most common type after basal cell carcinoma.

This cancer typically develops in areas of the body that receive frequent sun exposure, such as the face, ears, neck, lips, and the backs of the hands. However, it can also appear in less exposed areas, including the inside of the mouth, the soles of the feet, and the genital region. It’s important to note that SCC can affect individuals regardless of their sun exposure habits.

What You Need to Know About Skin Cancer

While SCC is generally not life-threatening, it can be aggressive in certain cases. Early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body and causing serious health complications.

Treatment Options for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Following a diagnosis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), a range of treatment options are available. The choice of treatment depends on various factors, including the size and location of the cancer, whether it has spread, and your overall health. Here’s an overview of the current treatment guidelines for SCC:

1. Surgery: Surgery is often the primary treatment for SCC, especially for localized tumors. The type of surgery depends on the tumor’s size and location:

Mohs Surgery: This is particularly indicated for SCCs located in areas where preserving cosmetic appearance and function is important, such as on the face. It’s also used for recurrent cancers or those with poorly defined edges. Mohs surgery allows for the removal of all cancerous cells while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.
Simple Excision: This is often the first-line treatment for small, well-defined SCCs in non-critical areas. It involves removing the tumor along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure all cancerous cells are excised.

2. Radiation Therapy: This uses high-energy X-rays to target cancer cell DNA and is typically used in situations where surgery isn’t possible due to the tumor’s size or location or for patients who are not good candidates for surgery due to other health issues. It’s also used as an adjunct therapy after surgical removal of larger or more aggressive SCCs to ensure any remaining cancer cells are destroyed.

3. Topical Treatments: These are used for very early-stage SCCs or actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous skin lesions). They are most effective for superficial lesions that have not invaded deeper layers of the skin.

4. Systemic Therapy: In advanced SCC, treatments that affect the whole body may be necessary. This includes:

Chemotherapy: This is generally reserved for advanced SCC that has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body and cannot be treated effectively with surgery or radiation.
Targeted Therapy: These drugs are used for advanced SCC, particularly when the cancer has specific genetic mutations that can be targeted by these therapies.
Immunotherapy: This is a newer form of treatment that’s showing promise for advanced or metastatic SCC, especially for tumors that are resistant to other forms of treatment. It works by boosting the body’s immune system to fight the cancer cells.

5. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): PDT is used for treating superficial or thin SCCs, especially in patients who have multiple lesions or who cannot undergo surgery.

6. Cryosurgery: This method is suitable for small, superficial SCCs, particularly in older patients or those with multiple lesions where more invasive surgery might not be ideal.

7. Clinical Trials: These are an option for patients with advanced SCC, especially when standard treatments have not been effective. Clinical trials offer access to new therapies that are still in the research phase.

Each of these treatments is chosen based on the individual patient’s situation, including the size, location, and aggressiveness of the SCC, as well as the patient’s overall health and preferences. It’s important to have a detailed discussion with your healthcare team to understand which treatment or combination of treatments is best suited for your specific case of SCC.