BCC & PMR

[PJPS]

I have just been diagnosed with a BCC (basal cell carcinoma) which is a form of skin cancer. I have to have a small lump removed from my nose which has only developed whilst taking Pred. Have heard that you're more at risk to this type of thing when taking Pred or is it because of the PMR?

[bowler]

I have been taking Pred for 16 years, I also started taking Azathioprine for a short time but they didn't agree with me so I stopped them. I was diagnosed recently with Bowens' disease on my face [ a form of skin cancer ] I understand that it could have been the Azathioprine ? but perhaps it was a combination of the Pred. and Aza,

I have GCA/PMR

[PJPS in reply to bowler]

Thank you for taking the time to reply bowler, I hope everything goes well for you.

[Annodomini]

Skin cancer can happen any time and need not be connected in any way with PMR or Prednisolone. I managed to have a malignant melanoma and various keratoses long before I had PMR. I attributed these to unprotected exposure to sun before the danger was recognised.

[PJPS in reply to Annodomini]

Thank you for your reply, the thing that surprised me about the bcc was the fact that I'm almost paranoid about not getting sun burn as I have fair skin. I always use factor 30 protection and wear a hat, I was thinking that the Pred has probably increased my chances of having a bcc.

[lancrose]

My in law had a skin cancer 2 years after she was put on predonisolone for her GCA. It does make sense as immunosuppression weakens all your entire immune system, not the bad bits only. Long-term immunosuppression is associated with malignancy. I recall reading that on my "side effects" paper. You are advised to put your sun cream if you are on immunosuppression. Autoimmune is an inflammatory condition, one might have more susceptibility for certain cancers (you wouldn't know until you are tested).

[PJPS in reply to lancrose]

Thank you for replying, it's an interesting topic as the Pred can have so many side effects so it is good to try and be aware of them. I take great care to protect my fair skin and have always done so long before I got PMR, I think its a case of being aware and just try to do whatever you can.

[hwigston]

I have a BCC on the shin of my left leg which I am waiting to have removed, not caused by Pred or GCA/PMR but by trauma when my bicycle fell on my leg 12 months ago. I asked Consultant whether it would have happened if I had not been on Pred and he said they can happen to anyone, especially those who have been exposed to unprotected sunshine. Factor 30+ is what he recommended.

[lancrose in reply to hwigston]

hwingson

That's scary - one's trauma turns into malignancy. Until I saw this thread, I never thought about Pred / immunosuppression as a major risk for those with PMRGCA. PJPS, Good luck with your surgery. Thank you for your helpful thread. Best wishes,

[madcatliz]

After six months of Prednisolone for PMR I required sugery

for a maligant melanoma on my leg. I am convinced that the immunosuppressant action of the steroids allowed malignant changes to the mole that had been there all my life. Fortunately, the melanoma had not spread so I was lucky and will now be regularly monitored.

Good luck PJMS.

[PJPS]

Thanks madcatliz, glad to hear it hadn't spread. I'm having mine removed in a couple of weeks time. Best wishes.

[Annodomini]

I was told that skin cancer can develop many years after the exposure to the sun. I think my melanoma (11 years ago) was caused by a severe dose of sunburn when I fell asleep on my front on a tropical beach in 1968. SPFs were unknown then.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

A study in Denmark found there was an increased incidence of various skin cancers in patients who had taken pred. I'm not sure if they found a link with length of time you had taken it though. If I remember rightly the rate of malignant melanoma was NOT increased.

Pred is thought to increase rate of ageing - and most of the other skin cancers are associated with the ageing process. I have several keratoses which appeared when I was on one form of pred which caused all sorts of side effects for me - the other forms haven't. At least 2 of these keratoses have disappeared altogether since changing the form of pred.