Top skin cancer content for Skin Cancer Awareness Month

In honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Healio has compiled the top skin cancer stories published so far in 2023.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s neutral statement on skin cancer screenings was the biggest news in skin cancer this year, with the task force concluding that there is not enough evidence to make a recommendation regarding primary care physicians conducting these screenings without cause.

Following this news, Healio published a story about how patients can conduct self-examinations if they are worried about missing an early diagnosis of skin cancer.

Additionally, Healio reported on two medications that may be associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. Rounding out the list is a detailed account in the ongoing debate between Mohs surgeons on how to diagnose in situ carcinoma.

Here are Healio’s top skin cancer stories in 2023:

USPSTF issues neutral statement on skin cancer screenings

In April, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement saying there is not enough evidence to recommend skin cancer screenings by primary care physicians in adolescents and adults without symptoms. The decision was due to inconsistent data and, therefore, the task force recommends further research, specifically with more diverse population groups. In an exclusive Healio Perspective, Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS, of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, claims that this statement, while important, will not change current practices. Read more.

Hypertension treatment hydrochlorothiazide could increase skin cancer risks

In this study published in April, researchers found that patients treated with hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension may face an increased risk for certain skin cancers with longer duration of use. This is due, in part, to the photosensitizing properties of the medication that make skin abnormally sensitive to ultraviolet light. Read more.

Q&A: Regular self-exams, ABCDEs of melanoma may help detect skin cancer early

Although skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, the 5-year survival rate is 99% when detected early. As a result, patient self-examinations are important. In an exclusive interview, Jennifer A. Stein, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, spoke with Healio about what clinicians should know regarding patient education and screening. Read more.

Lack of consensus among Mohs surgeons diagnosing in situ carcinoma

While most Mohs surgeons agree on diagnostic differentiations between actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma in situ, variability exists in the interpretation of in situ carcinoma on histological frozen sections, according to a study published in February. In fact, results showed a weak agreement between dermatologists compared with the standard, with a Fleiss kappa of 0.26 overall. Read more.

Methotrexate may increase skin cancer risk in patients with psoriasis

Lastly, a study confirmed the association between methotrexate and nonmelanoma skin cancer development particularly among patients with psoriasis. Results from this study showed that patients with psoriasis taking methotrexate were 2.8 times more likely to develop nonmelanoma skin cancer than those not taking the drug. However, according to an exclusive Healio Perspective from Tina Bhutani, MD, MAS, the association is still not determined to be causal. Read more.