Squamous Cell Carcinomas (skin): What are the different treatments?

I had Mohs surgery 3 weeks ago for squamous cell and it was not a bad experience at all. I had one surgeon perform the Mohs followed by a plastic surgeon to do the reconstruction. Fortunately, I did not require a skin graft. Everything was done under local anesthetic. I still have the steri strips covering the wound so can't comment on the aesthetics yet.

Last year I had a large basal cell removed with conventional surgery and it was not bad either.

Depending on location and size your surgeon may give you options. From my experience I think that Mohs is preferable.

I wouldn't worry about the two week delay. I put my initial consult off for two weeks since I was out of town when I received the biopsy results, and the consult with the associated plastic surgeon was almost 2 weeks later. So, initial biopsy report received April 5th, surgery on June 25th.

Good luck! Don't worry!

No immediate rush for surgery. I would want Mohs for
sure if it is on my head or neck. My Mohs surgeon does
his own wound closure unless it is eyelid.
I have found his repairs excellent over the years.
Much depends on the experience, skill and surgical
talent of the Mohs specialist.

Hi @michelleengelmanbern, I hope you saw the helpful posts from @keithl56 and @seniormed. I know the waiting time is hard. And you're halfway there.

Michelle, where was the skin cancer discovered?

I had a kidney transplant in 1990 and I live in Phoenix and I am a native, so I am very familiar with squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer. I just started an FDA approved IV treatment similar to Keytruda, and it appears to be working after even two injections. more about this treatment and alternative treatments. I will share my experiences so far as well. Thank you. Bryan.

Hello @bdaniels3434, I removed your email from your message as Mayo Clinic Connect is a public site and we want to protect our members from unwanted spam or solicitations. We recommend using the private message feature if you'd wish to discuss with members privately.

I'd also like to point out the benefit of sharing here in the support group where you will receive support and information from several people and we can all learn from each other.

May I ask, what is the name of the immunotherapy that you've started?

Keytruda. I receive it through an IV every three weeks and tomorrow is my third round. I am already seeing some positive results but I have a pet scan scheduled in about two weeks to verify some progress.

Update on my Libtayo treatment for SCC head and neck: Had my 11th infusion at Jax yesterday plus a PET scan and MRI on my head. Results show a small increase in size of a lymph node behind my left ear, which is where my surgery followed by radiation was. I'm really disappointed not to see it going away. Waiting to hear some follow up plans from my oncologist but still have 3 months of appts. scheduled for Libtayo. Cetuximab (Erbitux) was discussed as an option. I have read that its harder on the body and wonder if any have had it??? Also wonder if any have gone a longer duration with Libtayo before seeing results???

After reading some of the comments here about all the different treatments for squamous skin cancers, I am pretty amazed.
All I have had is either Mohs surgery or simply frozen off. No oncologist care, or infusions, or scary sounding creams and drugs.
I have been told by my doctors that squamous cancers are not that serious unless they are very advanced and have spread. I have had many skin cancers and even two melanomas, and also many serious sarcomas.
Any ideas why my treatments are different? (I feel lucky to not have gone thru what some people here have had to put up with!)