SYDNEY, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Rates of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a common form of skin cancer, have risen steadily across generations in Australia and Europe, with increases generally greater among women than men, according to new research.
The study, led by Australia's QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, analyzed more than 30 years of data from seven cancer registries in the Australian island state of Tasmania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Scotland and the Netherlands, and revealed a consistent trend, according to a statement released Wednesday by the institute.
Lead researcher Catherine Olsen at QIMR Berghofer said researchers were surprised to find SCC rates rising faster among women across generations, a pattern different from that observed in melanoma.
The findings, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, point to SCC's strong link with cumulative lifetime exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, including changes in recreational and occupational exposure, Olsen said.
Although most SCC cases are successfully treated with surgery, some spread beyond the skin and can cause serious illness or death. The cancer is far more common than melanoma but remains comparatively under-researched because it is not routinely recorded in the same way melanoma is, the researcher said.
Senior author Professor David Whiteman said the findings highlighted the need for greater attention to prevention and monitoring, noting that almost all SCC cases were believed to be caused by exposure to the sun's UV rays.
The researchers said simple measures such as protective clothing, seeking shade, and applying sunscreen could help reduce the risk. ■