ABOUT SQUAMOUS CELL SKIN CANCER:
RISK FACTORS

Risk factors for squamous cell skin cancer include:

• Cumulative, unprotected exposure to sunlight or other UV radiation. UV exposure during childhood and adolescence is a bigger risk factor than exposure during adulthood. Nevertheless, people who work outdoors or spend a lot of their leisure time outside are also at high risk. See An Ounce of Prevention
• Fair (light) skin. But this doesn’t mean people of colour can’t develop squamous cell skin cancer. See Fact vs Fiction
• Male sex (men are three times more likely than women to develop squamous cell skin cancer)
• A history of previous skin cancers
• A history of actinic keratoses (scaly spots on sun-damaged skin)
• Older age (the average age when people develop squamous cell skin cancer is approximately 65)
• Infection with the human papilloma virus
• Immunosuppression. Organ transplant patients, patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, and certain patients with blood cancer are examples of at-risk groups. In fact, depending on the type of organ transplant and the immunosuppression regimen, organ transplant recipients are 65-250 times more likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer than the general population
• Certain genetic mutations. These include albinism (lack of colour in hair, skin, or eyes) and xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a condition in which the body can’t repair damage to DNA caused by the sun
• Exposure to certain toxic chemicals (arsenic; carcinogens in tar, pitch, soot, etc.)
• Smoking