What is Syringocystadenocarcinoma Papilliferum?
Syringocystadenocarcinoma Papilliferum is an extremely rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. It usually develops from a harmless skin lump called syringocystadenoma papilliferum, which comes from the sweat glands in the skin.
In some people, especially older adults, this lump may remain unchanged for many years and then suddenly turn cancerous. This type of cancer mostly appears on areas rich in sweat glands, such as the scalp, neck, and face.
Symptoms
The cancer usually begins as a small, slow-growing bump that may have been present since childhood. But once it becomes cancerous, it can grow faster, change in shape or color, and start showing signs like pain, bleeding, or forming an open sore.
These warning signs often alert the patient or doctor to a serious change. Sometimes, the skin may ooze fluid or become ulcerated, which means the top layer breaks open like a wound.
Diagnosis
To confirm the diagnosis, doctors usually do a skin biopsy. This means removing a small piece of the lump and examining it under a microscope. The pathologist looks for cancer cells to confirm if the tumour has turned into a malignant one. If needed, scans like CT or MRI are done to check whether the cancer has spread to nearby tissues.
Treatment
Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the entire tumour along with a small area of healthy skin around it, to make sure all cancer cells are gone.
If the cancer is aggressive or has spread, doctors may suggest radiation therapy or chemotherapy as well. Since this cancer is so rare, each case is treated based on the patient’s condition and how advanced the cancer is.
Prognosis
The outlook depends on how early the cancer is detected and treated. If caught early and fully removed, the chances of recovery are good. However, if the tumour is ignored, it can grow deep into the skin and possibly spread to other parts of the body. Because it has the potential to come back, regular follow-ups are important even after treatment.
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