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Later On: Non-melanoma skin cancer can forecast others
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Published: December 2, 2008
The question: Are people who have had skin cancer more likely to develop subsequent cancers that do not involve the skin?
This study: It analyzed data on 19,174 people age 25 and older, 769 of whom had received a diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancer (either basal cell or squamous cell). In the next 16 years, 2,337 of them were found to have another cancer, including lung, colorectal, breast, prostate and melanoma. People who had had non-melanoma skin cancer were twice as likely to develop another type of cancer as were those who had not had skin cancer.
Who may be affected? People who have had non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. Most occurrences stem from exposure to the sun.
Caveats: The study did not determine risks for specific types of cancer. People who had had skin cancer may have gotten more-frequent or higher-quality medical care than others, making it more likely that subsequent cancers were detected.
Find this study: Aug. 26 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Learn more: www.cancer.gov and www.cancer.org.
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