THURSDAY August 28, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- People with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), particularly those who had it at a young age, are much more likely to have other cancers in the future than those who have had no NMSC, according to a study in the August 26, 2008 issue of the Journal of The National Cancer Institute.

The study led by Anthony J. Alberg PHD of Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina showed people with a personal history of NMSC had a two-fold increase in the risk of other cancers than those without skin cancer history.

Early studies have already found that development of non-melanoma skin cancer indicates that an individual is more susceptible to melanoma. The current study showed those who have the history of NMSC are also prone to having other types of cancers.

For the study, the researchers followed more than 19,000 people for 16 years. They found that the greatest risk for future cancers was found among those who had NMSC at 25 to 44.

"The link between nonmelanoma skin cancer and increased risk for many different types of cancer may provide valuable clues to advance what we know about the causes of cancer," said Alberg.

"Right now, we do not understand why this link is present, but it suggests that skin cancer may be a marker for a characteristic, likely a genetic characteristic, that increases overall susceptibility to cancer. This certainly makes NMSC seem to be a more important part of one’s personal health history than we previously thought."

Considering all other cancers except melanoma, the association between future cancer risk and a personal history of NMSC was still existent, meaning the elevated risk was not just linked to increased risk of melanoma.