Risk of Second Primary Cancer and Death Following a Diagnosis of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Abstract

Cancer-free patients diagnosed with a first primary nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) offer an opportunity for studying the risk of a second primary cancer without the confounding effect of systemic treatment. The objective of the study was to estimate the risk of second primary cancer in people with a history of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the risk of dying in cancer patients with a NMSC history. BCC and SCC cases diagnosed between 1956 and 2000 in Manitoba, Canada were followed-up for second primaries (other than NMSC). Standardized incidence and mortality ratios (SIR and SMR) were calculated. Men [SIR, 1.06; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.02-1.10] and women (SIR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12) with a BCC history as well as men (SIR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.08-1.22) with a SCC history were at greater risk of a second primary cancer. Overall, the increased risk was observed only in the first 4 years following a NMSC, although it remained increased for specific cancer sites. The risk remained higher in all age groups up to 75 years of age. People with a history of BCC (males: SMR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04-1.14; females: SMR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16-1.32) or SCC (males: SMR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.09-1.27; females: SMR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.35-1.79) had a greater risk of death following their second primaries. Even if NMSC patients are at greater risk of a second cancer, it is not recommended to follow them up beyond the generally accepted periodic examination of the skin. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2005;14(11):2584 -90)

History of Keratinocyte Carcinoma and Risk of Melanoma: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…reports, except that the risk estimate tended to be lower in the present study (multivariable-adjusted HR ¼ 2.22) than those reported in previous case-control or registry-based studies (HR/ meta-analysis relative risk > 2.70) (6)(7)(8) and in a prospective study with a total of 19 174 individuals and a 16-year follow-up (multivariable-adjusted relative risk ¼ 7.94) (9). The modest associations reported in our study may be partly explained by the adjustment for a number of potential risk factors.…”

Response: Risk of prostate, breast and colorectal cancer after skin cancer diagnosis

“…Therefore, patients with these characteristics are expected to have a higher Vitamin D status and possibly a lower risk of certain second cancers. [2][3][4][5]9 Indeed, similar to previous studies, 2-4,10 Levi et al found lower SIR point estimates for SCC and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) than for melanoma, although no decreased risks were observed. After stratification by location and subtype of skin cancer, neither Levi et al…”

“…2,3 and Nugent et al 4 Most other studies obtained similar results to the findings of Levi et al This might be because skin cancer patients do not have higher vitamin D levels or because vitamin D does not protect against the development of second tumors. However, any decreased or an increased risk might also be obscured by some methodological issues, that are illustrated later.…”

Functions of hereditary immunity and xenogamy in cancer origin and pandemic spread

“…As the numbers of cancer survivors and of older people increases, the occurrence of multiple primary cancers is also likely to increase [64][65][66][67][68]. Approximately one-third of cancer survivors aged >60 years were diagnosed more than once with another cancer.…”