The study found that men and women with a history of non-melanoma skin cancers—the most common form of cancer in the United States and includes basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma—had a 15per cent and 26per cent increased risk, respectively, of developing another form of cancer compared with those who had no such history.
The authors of the study say: “This prospective study found a modestly increased risk of subsequent malignancies among individuals with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, specifically breast and lung cancer in women and melanoma in both men and women.”
They continue: “Because our study was observational, these results should be interpreted cautiously and are insufficient evidence to alter current clinical recommendations.”
The authors add: “Nevertheless, these data support a need for continued investigation of the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship.”