How do doctors diagnose squamous cell skin cancer?
If you’re worried about a spot, lump, flaky patch or blemish on your skin, you should see your doctor. It can be hard to diagnose squamous cell skin cancer just by looking at it. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between this type of skin cancer and another type of damage caused by the sun (called a solar keratosis). If your GP thinks you may have squamous cell skin cancer, they should refer you to a doctor with specialist training in diagnosing skin cancer.[1] This will probably be a dermatologist. You may need a simple operation to remove some cells from your skin. The cells will be checked under a microscope for signs of cancer. This operation is called a biopsy. You should get an appointment within two weeks if:[2] • You have a scaly or crusty blemish bigger than 1 centimetre that won’t heal • You are taking drugs to suppress your immune system and have symptoms that suggest you could have squamous cell skin cancer • You’ve had an organ transplant and have a new or gr
