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Study Finds Link Between Skin Cancer and Smoking

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Long-term smokers are twice as likely to get non-melanoma skin cancer, according to researchers.

A study by researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida found that women diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (a common non-melanoma skin cancer) were more likely to have smoked. Subjects who smoked 20 years or more were twice as likely to develop the disease.

Women smokers have higher risk

Both women and men get plenty of exposure to the sun, and men in general are more likely to develop skin cancer. However, for men, the correlation with smoking wasn’t significant. Researchers theorized that perhaps some physiological difference, such as estrogen, makes female smokers at a higher risk for skin cancer.

The researchers recruited 383 patients with skin cancer and 315 without it. All patients had white skin, which puts them at risk for skin cancer.

They asked subjects questions like:

  • How much do you smoke?
  • When did you start smoking
  • How many years have you smoked?

The researchers found a startling correlation: the more people smoked, the more likely they were to develop non-melanoma skin cancer.

About Skin Cancers

Squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are common non-melanoma skin cancers. If you suspect skin cancer, a doctor can identify it and order a biopsy to confirm if a growth or lesion is skin cancer. You should always see a doctor if you notice any suspicious growths or changes in your skin.

Plastic surgeons frequently remove skin cancer lesions, while taking extra care to reconstruct the tissue and minimize damage to the skin. Surgical removal is often quick and minimally invasive, but it can leave scars. One of the most common techiques is excision (surgical tissue removal) followed by direct closure.

Read more about the study on smoking and skin cancer from Health Day News.

Photo credit: Smoke by Amagill on Flickr

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