When is immunotherapy recommended for squamous cell skin cancer?

Most cutaneous squamous cell cancers are first assessed for local options such as surgery or radiotherapy. If a tumour is difficult to remove, has spread, or comes back after local treatment, an oncology team may discuss an immune-based medicine. The decision considers tumour location, symptoms, prior treatment, and the person’s general health.

Tell the team about autoimmune disease, organ transplantation, inflammatory conditions, and medicines that suppress immunity. Treatment can trigger inflammation in the skin, bowel, lungs, liver, or hormone glands, so monitoring is part of the plan.

Ask whether the lesion has been fully assessed and whether surgery or radiotherapy remains suitable. Bring details of previous procedures and medicines, including creams and immune-suppressing drugs. During treatment, check the treated area as advised and report rapidly changing skin findings, new lumps, diarrhoea, cough, breathlessness, fever, or unusual fatigue.

Contact your care team promptly for bleeding that does not settle, rapidly increasing pain or swelling, spreading redness, fever, new breathlessness, persistent diarrhoea, yellowing of the eyes, or a widespread rash. Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, fainting, sudden confusion, or swelling around the face or throat.

Is my cancer localised, recurrent, or advanced? Why is immunotherapy being considered instead of, or alongside, local treatment? What changes should I look for in the skin? How will you monitor immune-related effects, and when should treatment be held?