Common skin cancer rates rising fast among women, study warns

Scientists have noted a decades-long increase in the rates of a common skin cancer across Australia and Europe, highlighting a hidden, growing public health challenge.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been steadily rising among women in particular, new research published in the British Journal of Dermatology warns.

This type of cancer begins in the squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that make up the surface of the skin and many hollow organs, as well as the respiratory and digestive tracts. Cutaneous SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer and typically develops on sun-exposed areas like the head, neck, ears, lips, and hands due to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.

In the new study, researchers from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia assessed over 30 years of data from seven cancer registries across Australia and European nations including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Scotland and the Netherlands.

They found that cutaneous SCC had risen steadily across generations, with increases generally greater among women than men.

While SCCs are mostly treated successfully with surgery, a proportion spreads beyond the skin and can cause serious illness and, in some cases, death.

Although SCC is far more common than the most common skin cancer type, melanoma, it remains comparatively under-researched as it is not routinely recorded.

“We were quite surprised to see that SCC incidence was rising faster in women across generations compared to men. That is a different pattern to what we see with melanoma,” said lead researcher Catherine Olsen.

The datasets assessed in the study were from both Australia and Europe, showing that the increase in cancer rates was occurring internationally.

While there could be several possible explanations for the trend, including improvements in cancer registration, these did not adequately explain the sex differences observed, researchers said.

The findings point to SCC’s strong relationship with overall lifetime exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

“There are changes that have happened over successive generations in terms of recreational exposure, also occupational exposure, and we are seeing an increased burden in women,” Dr Olsen said.

“It’s important that the community understands that because it is a preventable cancer,” she said.

Researchers call for greater attention to SCC, both in terms of prevention and monitoring.

“This really is almost like a flag going up saying this is a problem that’s not going away. It’s becoming more common, and squamous cell cancers are eminently preventable,” David Whiteman, another author of the study, said.

“We believe that almost all of them are caused by exposure to the ultraviolet rays in the sun.”