In a recent revelation, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has now overtaken melanoma as the leading cause of skin cancer deaths globally. Melanoma is typically recognized as the most lethal form of skin cancer, which might render this recent finding surprising to many.
This groundbreaking research was undertaken at the esteemed University Hospital of Nice, France. The data employed was meticulously gathered by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an integral part of the prominent World Health Organization. According to the study, melanoma accounted for 57,000 fatalities globally in 2020, while NMSC caused an alarming 63,700 deaths.
The belief has long prevailed that NMSC posed less of a threat to life than other carcinomas, often being excluded from national cancer registry reports. However, the new findings highlight that “rarely fatal” is not synonymous with “never fatal”. If a significant number of people contract this type of cancer, the death toll can potentially skyrocket, as exemplified by the recent report.
Both melanoma and NMSC are majorly induced by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), resulting from sun exposure or utilization of tanning beds. This radiation can trigger carcinogenic mutations that promote the development of skin cancer. Over the past few decades, there has been a surge in the incidence of these cancers due to altered vacationing trends and tanning attitudes.
Although they share similarities, melanoma, and NMSC portray crucial differences. NMSC is predominantly a result of chronic exposure to sunlight over a lifetime. Consequently, the face and head are often the most affected areas. On the contrary, melanoma is commonly associated with sporadic extreme sunburns, particularly on the trunk.
The two primary forms of NMSC are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), both derivatives of a type of skin cell called a keratinocyte, which composes the outer layer of our skin. Genetic mutations in keratinocytes, through exposure to UV, can bypass the body’s inherent cancer defense mechanism, causing uncontrolled cell division and tumor formation.
In contrast, melanomas are a result of cancer-inducing mutations in a different skin cell type, known as melanocyte. Crucial for skin protection, melanocytes produce melanin, which determines our skin color and increases upon UV exposure, resulting in a tan.
But why does NMSC cause more deaths than melanoma if it’s less prone to forming lethal secondary tumors? This is majorly implied to the sheer numbers. While globally, melanoma cases are relatively definitive, NMSC cases are less documented, with inconsistencies in data collection among different countries.
However, an optimistic view suggests that the leap of NMSC over melanoma as a leading cause of death might be due to significant breakthroughs in melanoma treatment in recent years. Despite the rise in melanoma cases, mortalities are declining, owing to the advent of new, effective treatments.
Despite these advancements, prevention remains key. Sun protection awareness campaigns to mitigate the risk of skin cancer should be our priority.
