Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Non melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in Caucasian \npeople (1,2). NMSC mainly consists of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal \ncell carcinoma (BCC). Often Bowens disease (SCC in situ) and actinic keratosis are \nconsidered to be included although they are not invasive. It is an important and a \ngrowing healthcare problem. If current trends continue it is expected that there will \nbe 80% more (new) skin cancer patients by 2015 compared to those in 2000. The \nnumber of BCC patients will increase by 78% and by 2015 there will be 26000 \nnew cases of fi rst/primary BCC compared to 15000 in 2000 in the Netherlands. \nThe largest increase in incidence is expected to be in younger age groups 15-64 \nyears (females 94%, males 66%), and due to an increase in superfi cial BCC (3,4). A \ntypical BCC patient is female, becoming younger, and presenting with a superfi cial \nlesion. If current patterns of sun exposure do not change this increase in incidence \nwill continue over time due to the ageing population (3,5). A serious rise in annual \ndemand for care for non melanoma skin cancer will occur. Although NMSC is the \nmost common cancer, death from NMSC is uncommon but it occurs. An estimated \nnumber of 1017 deaths due to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 672 due to BCC \nin man and woman of all ages occurs yearly in Europe (6). In 20 % of the deaths \ndue to skin cancer metastases of SCC are the cause of death(7).
Author: Ellen de Haas
Language: English
Subfield: Dermatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W69367363