How long before SCC Skin Cancer Metasticizes?

I was told I have SCC Skin Cancer today, but given no other details (like what stage, etc). My dermatologist just said to come in in about 4 weeks to have the area removed. I am now wondering--could it have metasticized? Of course, the Doctor's Office is closed. Try as I may, I can't seem to find a timeline online. So I am wondering--how long does SCC generally grow before it metasticizes to the lymph nodes or elsewhere?

It depends on how large and how deep the SCC is plus genetics and luck figure into this. If you have an in situ (localized) SCC then the chances of metastasis are very small in your immediate future. 1% or less for a small localized SCC. If you have a SCC that is a half inch big or very deep and you have ignored it for a year then you have something to be concerned about. There is no specific time line. I recently read an article in a major medical journal with lots of photos of a man who had a huge SCC on his hand that was cured using the drug Aldara. He's had this huge open sore - tumor for 9 years without metastasis. This cancer looked terrible but had not spread beyond three fingers on his hand and had not gone into his lymph nodes. I was shocked that the cancer had not metastasized. This illustration is not to say that you should not have the SCC removed as soon as you can get into the Dr but just to illustrate that there is no definite time line where that having a SCC for 3 or 6 months means you are at extreme risk.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/... Source(s): my dermatologist

well nothing in cancer is definitve rule.sorry to hear u have squamous cell carcinoma,and hope u r fine and it will be cured ,sometimes small undetectable cancers patient comes with symptoms of metatstasis and u cant find even the primary source ,so they will have to do for u complete body scanning,x-rays,ct-scan mri etc,to know if u got any or not,if u want more advice or knowledge can u tell me where u got scc and do u have any regional lymph nodes enlarged or hard.or any symptoms in breasts.lungs ,or any where in body????
SCC is not a very aggressive cancer if it's on the skin. It usually needs years for metastasizing, usually in the lymph nodes. If the lesion is on the lips or on the mucosa, it is more aggressive.
If you don't have the lesion for many years, I be live you could stay calm. SCC is a very curable cancer.
Good luck.
More about cancer on my blog:
http://www.newcancerguide.com
Cristiana
SCC is a very cureable skin cancer. It's main problem, as with BCC is that is can grow locally and often affects areas where removal is unsightly, or difficult, such as the scalp. In terms of mets, it is uncommon, but can happen, normally in the lymph nodes locally to the tumour. Your doctor will have felt these at the time he or she examined you, and if they are planning surgery in 4 weeks, it would be most likely to be just a normal simple SCC. If it hasn;'t been biopsied yet, it may come back as an IEC or even actinic keratosis or something.