Skin basal cell carcinoma and breast cancer?
 

Does anyone know if there is a possible link between breast cancer and basal cell carcinoma?

Since having breast cancer, I have been diagnosed with 2 basal cell carcinomas in less than a years time. Unfortunately, I am a former sun worshiper (have never gone into tanning booths) and am relatively fair/light skinned with blue/green eyes. My dermatologist and Mohl's skin surgeon tell me that there is absolutely no connection but it still makes me wonder.

Does anyone know?

Thank you,
Liz

Liz,

I saw this article recently suggesting that having had nonmelanoma skin cancer can lead to increased risk in other cancers. I have a history of basal cell, squamous cell AND melanoma. Even though this article deals with being dx'd with skin cancer prior to a subsequent cancer dx, I wouldn't be suprised if developing skin cancer after bc isn't somehow connected. Be vigilant in checking your skin for changes and make sure you are seen regularly by a dermatologist.


History Of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Is Associated With Increased Risk For Subsequent Malignancies

ScienceDaily (Aug. 28, 2008) — Individuals with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are at increased risk for other cancers, according to a study published in the August 26 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Previous studies have documented that people who have had nonmelanoma skin cancer were at increased risk for developing melanoma, but it is less well-established whether they were also at risk for cancers that do not involve the skin.
In the current study, Anthony Alberg, Ph.D., of the Medical University of South Carolina and colleagues analyzed data from a prospective cohort study called CLUE II, which was established in Washington County, Md., in 1989. Alberg's team compared the risk of malignancies in 769 individuals who had been diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer and 18,405 individuals with no history of the disease during a 16-year follow-up period.
The overall incidence of cancers was 293.5 cases per 10,000 person-years in the participants with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer and 77.8 per 10,000 in those individuals without a history of skin cancer. After adjusting for other known variables associated with cancer risk, including age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and education level, the researchers found that individuals with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer had a two-fold increase in the risk of subsequent cancers compared with individuals with no skin cancer history.
The increased risk remained statistically significant when the researchers removed melanoma from the list of subsequent cancers, indicating that the elevated risk was not restricted to melanoma. The association was observed for both types of nonmelanoma skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.
The strongest association between a history of skin cancer and subsequent malignancies was seen in the youngest study participants, aged 25 to 44 years. "This pattern of associations, with earlier age of [nonmelanoma skin cancer] diagnosis being linked more strongly to the risk of developing subsequent malignancies, is consistent with the pattern that one would expect for a marker of inherited predisposition to cancer," the authors write.



Journal reference:

• Chen J, Ruczinski I, Jorgensen TJ, Yenokyan G, Yao Y, Alani R, Liégeois NJ, et al. Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer and Risk for Subsequent Malignancy. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2008; 1215-1222 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djn260

Adapted from materials provided by Journal of the National Cancer Institute, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
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Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2008, August 28). History Of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Is Associated With Increased Risk For Subsequent Malignancies. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/08/080826190852.htm

In the year after treatment I had several basal and squamish cell skin cancers.
I don't know why but I know it is related and does ease up.

I just put it in perspective - it wasn't life threatening!

Janice

This is all very interesting.... I have a consult with a dermatologist next month. I had a little mole pop up and turn black during my radiation. It is right there in the radiated field on my chest. hmmm.

Gerri-
very interesting article. It makes alot of sense. Thank you for posting it.

Janice-
I hope your right and it eases up :+) Thank you for sharing your experience. Right now, I'm just paranoid about everything. I know that I'll ease up in time. What scares me is that my basal cells looked nothing like the pictures you see on the internet or in books and my doctors thought it was a big nothing and they told me that I have nothing to worry about but the biopsies came back positive. But that has been my pattern.

Terri-
If it makes a difference, I have several new small dark moles form in the area I was radiated on. They were very dark and sort of scare me but they don't seem to be changing which is a good thing. I hope your's are the same but definitely follow up with a determatologist just to be sure.

Kathy-
I'm sorry about your dad and grandmother. I too believe that most if not all cancers have some type of link and that stinks. You said that your basal cell grew very quickly and that makes alot of sense since I have been told to pay attention to changes.

Wishing all of you the very best,

Liz

This was very interesting. Thank you all for sharing. Scary, but good to know. Now I have to go get naked with a mirror and check my moles! Do you know how tough that is to do these days? Ughh!!! This chemo weight!

I had 2 basal cell spots removed on my face prior to my breast cancer diagnosis. I find it interesting that when filling out all the paperwork at different doctors, they ask if you've ever been diagnosed with any other type of cancer...and next to that question, it says not to count basal cell and squamus cell carcinoma. The article posted here would suggest that doctors having that info would be relevant!

I had one basel cell mole removed from a place where the sun don't shine about 6 years before BC.

Thank you all for responding!
 

Thank you ladies for replying-

today I finally had the 2nd basal cell removed from the top of my head and now I look like I had brain surgery since I have to wear a compression stocking on my head for 24 hours.

While I met with the surgeon I had an indepth discussion about breast cancer and the possible connections of the various types of skin cancers. I commented about the responses to my post in this forum. WOW, my surgeon's view changed from when we last spoke about this topic which was when I had my last basal cell removed in May 08'. Today he told me that he feels eventually studies will prove that all cancers are somehow connected. I felt there is a link but to actually hear that from someone who before felt the opposite, stunned me but now all of this makes more sense.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and yes we should all check ourselves including areas where the sun don't shine in a full length mirror (if possible) atleast once a month and look for any new changes.

Wishing all of you the very best,

Liz

We have so much to teach the doctors.
Janice

Janice you are soooo right!!!!

Melanoma
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. In the general population the average lifetime risk for melanoma is about 2%. Studies have shown a slightly increased risk for melanoma in carriers of BRCA2 mutations. Other gene mutations have been associated with an increased risk for melanoma. If melanoma runs in your family, it is important to consult with a genetics specialist to determine risk and management options.

In women with BC who are BRCA+

Thank you guest, for pointing that out. Some women may not be aware of that. Actually when I initially went to see a dermatologist that was one of the questions on the patient questionnnare (specifically to melonoma). Fortunately cancer does not run in my family. In a family of all girls (I'm the youngest of 6 girls) and the only one that has ever been diagnosed with breast cancer and the only one on both; my maternal (family of 18) and paternal (family of 14) as well. But none of us can be too careful, since cancer is very sneeky(sp?) and obviously does not discriminate.

I had numerous (20+) basal cells removed beginning about 25 years ago. Since diagnosis in 2004, I've had more plus 1 squamous cell and one stage 0 melanoma on my leg last year. I see the dermatologist twice a year to have the new basal cells removed. They just keep cropping up. Fortunately, I recognized the melanoma as such early on before it got too nasty.

This thread really got me thinking about other things that might be related to BC that occured prior to DX.

As far back as I can remember, I had what appeared to be a light colored mole, surrounded by an area that had no pigmentation, just above the areola on my affected breast. Cancer related?

Also, for several months prior to dx, I had an "itch" in the area where the upper edge of my bra joined the side elastic going under the arm. I was constantly hooking my thumb under my bra to scratch the itch. I now realize that the itch was in the area where my very small tumor and larger area of necrosis was found. Could I somehow have been "feeling" the cancer? Or was this just coincidence? Didn't have the same "itch" in the other breast.

Yes, Geri, I recall having read that article last summer. I thought it was interesting too since I had basal cell cancer removed from my neck and had breast cancer too, both at a young age and I was not much of a sun worshiper. I am fair skinned with freckles, though.

PS. My paternal grandmother had breast cancer too at a younger age and a history of a lot of basal cell carcinomas. My dad has had a lot of basal cell carcinomas, but no other cancers.

Re: Skin basal cell carcinoma and breast cancer?
 

Yes, there is a link between BCC and Bc. Note the interesting link below, citing patch1 tumor suppressor gene weakness in the heterzygous state and increased sonic hedgehod signaling, which are responsible for increased basal cell carcinoma and increased breast cancer.

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:...ient=firefox-a


LInk on patch1 tumor suppressor gene weakness in the heterzygous state in BCC:

http://books.google.com/books?id=uoQ...in%20D&f=false

Re: Skin basal cell carcinoma and breast cancer?
 

I had a bout of squameous on the same side as the cancer side.