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CancerSmart Web Cast March 22, 2007 -- Drs. Hadley Claire King, Kishwer Nehal, and Jedd Wolchok present "The latest developments in the screening and treatment of skin cancer."
Total Run time: 55 minutes |
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Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the single most important cause of skin cancer, especially when the exposure resulted in sunburn and blistering. Overexposure to UV radiation (UVB radiation in particular) is the most common risk factor associated with squamous cell carcinoma.
The people who are most likely to develop skin cancers are those with fair skin -- often those with blond or red hair and blue or light-colored eyes -- because they have less of the pigment melanin in their skin to provide a degree of natural protection from the sun. People with dark skin, however, are not immune to the disease.
People who work outdoors or who spend a lot of time at the beach or participating in outdoor sports are also at higher risk of developing skin cancer. Sun lamps and tanning salons are another source of UV rays.
A history of skin cancer raises one's risk for future skin cancers. Precancerous lesions known as actinic keratoses also can develop into squamous cell carcinomas. Researchers estimate that as many as 25 percent of patients with actinic keratoses will develop squamous cell carcinoma.
Other, less common, risk factors for skin cancer include repeated exposure to x-rays and exposure to coal tar, arsenic, and other industrial compounds. Immune suppression and infection with human papilloma virus are also associated with increased risk for squamous cell carcinoma.
