Skin cancer. Light micrograph of a section through skin affected by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This cancer is affecting the vulva of the female genitals. Squamous cells are flat scale-like cells in the upper layers of the skin. SCC is the second most common type of skin cancer. It is almost always slow growing and may spread deeply into underlying connective tissue (light pink). It mostly affects the elderly. Treatment is with surgical removal of the tumour, combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.