THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-MELANOCYTIC SKIN CANCERS IN PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY OF SHIN CANCER

Objective: To determine the incidence of new skin cancer formation in people who have had skin cancer removed. Study Design: A prospective s tudy of Melbourne out-patients with histologically confirmed non-melan oma skin cancer (NMSC). All patients with NMSC seen by one author (D.C .) between November 1988 and November 1989 were entered into the study and reviewed regularly. New skin cancers were removed and recorded. R esults: Four hundred and eighty-one patients were entered and 420 foll owed for at least 3 years. New NMSC developed in 60% (adjusted for los ses) by the end of 3 years. A multivariate analysis determined that th e main risk factor for new NMSC formation was the number of previous s kin cancers that a patient had. These who had had multiple skin cancer s (3 or more) were at significantly greater risk than those with less than 3, Age, sex and type of NMSC were not risk factors for new skin c ancer formation. Conclusion: Patients with NMSC require long-term foll owup because of the risk of new skin cancer formation, Those with mult iple NMSC need more careful follow-up, and possibly more frequent exam inations, because they are at greater risk.