Smoking and skin cancer

Smoking has long been tied to a number of cancers, and now, skin cancer might join that list.

Lighting up can boost the risk of a common type of non-melanoma skin cancer.

Smoking is associated with a 52 per cent increased risk of cutaneous, squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer, which actually accounts for about 97 per cent of all skin cancers.

It’s important therefore, that doctors actively survey high-risk patients, including current smokers, to identify early skin cancers, since early diagnosis can improve prognosis.

Early lesions are simpler to treat compared to larger or neglected lesions.

These cancers occur in the epidermis, the top layer of skin, and can spread to other organs.

(Archives of Dermatology June 18th 2012)

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