I have suffered from PMR twice and in both manifestations of the disease I took prednisone. I was fortunately able to do so at low dosages (never over 10 mg) to control the symptoms. I am no longer taking prednisone. Just recently I discovered a fast-growing spot on my leg that turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma. When meeting with the dermatologist, I mentioned that I had had PMR and he commented that he had recently had several people with PMR in his office.
That got me searching the web where I found that use of prednisone increases chances of squamous cell carcinoma by suppressing the immune system. webmd.com/cancer/lymphoma/n...
Now obviously, most of us with PMR need to take prednisone. So my purpose for writing is NOT to say that you should stop, but rather that we should all be more careful to stay out of the sun to protect our skin. Also, we need to be vigilant for changes in our skin and follow up with the dermatologist.
I would be interested to know whether anybody else has been diagnosed with this kind of skin cancer after taking prenisone.
Written by
MaryClark
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I think there have been a couple of people over the years but it isn't very common.
Thank you for making an important point - we do tell people to cover up and use sunscreen when on pred but like everything else, hearing this sort of story hammers the message home far better.
On Tuesday, I had the growth removed, along with an area around it. I was surprised at how large the stitched area is. The removed tissue will go for a biopsy, and if he did not get all the cancer, I will probably have to have another procedure. I am hoping that he got it all. Once you have had one cancer there is a better chance of having another, so I will have to be vigilant.
Thanks for sharing this. It must have been a bit of a shock if you didn't know about the potential connection. I also take a dmard that has a connection too. I have been covering everything in spf50 and/or thick clothes for a few years, even my hat is spf50, though probably not since it went into a river. Obviously clothing might not always protect so if I know I am going out I put the sunscreen on. It is a timely reminder for people in the UK as we are having a mini summer! Best wishes, I hope all goes well🌻
I was until.last summer a lover of baking in the sun but about 4 months before being diagnosed with pmr in oct 18 couldnt stand being in the sun for any length of time which sounds like a good thing now. Thanks for the warning.
Hi Mary
I have had Bowen’s Disease, which used to be described as Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Situ, now reclassified as Pre Cancerous SCC
I had a biopsy on my leg & it was treated with Efudix Cream, there were however other spots on my décolletage & they were treated without biopsies due to their position but they cleared up.
Interestingly Efudix was one of the Chemo Drugs l had when l was treated for breast cancer.
I am mindful of the risks as l too have been on a DAMARD & on Prednisolone for 7years.
I am glad of the reason to cover up and stay out of the sun. I can’t seem to stand it anymore. My eldest daughter ( Australia for 15 years) has more wrinkles than me.
As you say SCC can have lots of other causes which are more common than Pred use , especially time spent in the sun , and general skin care .
These things should definitely be given attention to and we should be more observant of any skin changes we have and have unusual skin issues checked by the GP or a Dermatologist more swiftly if we take any type of immunity altering medication , not just steroids.
Steroid use may not also be the cause of a SCC but its use may bring a pre-existing SCC weakness to light , as a number of people I know whom use steroids were diagnosed with SCC eruptions within weeks of beginning the drug , not because it caused it , but because the effect on the healing of the skin and their immunity brought the issue " to the surface".
I believe what you say is accurate. Born and raised in Australia. Shortly after diagnosis of PMR had a small sqc taken off my leg calf. I watch all the small "bumps" very carefully.
Strange I don’t like being in the sun since PMR. I take on board what you have said Mary and will follow my new instincts. Cover up , sunscreen, and extra Vit D!
My husband was prescribed Prednisone twice a day, while he takes chemo every 3 weeks. The last 2 scheduled infusions were not given because his white blood cell count was too low, and his blood pressure was low. He has developed purple spots on various places on his arm and face. He has been to the doctor twice about these. They did a blood test. He loves sitting out in the sun. I am glad you shared your information, as no person has warned him about Prednisone effects (but me)...
This may not mean much, but my mother has invasive squamous cell skin cancer and has had many MOHS surgeries over the years. She NEVER took prednisone, but she spent years in the sun as a sun worshipper and never used sunscreen.
I remember in the 60s &70s everyone used oil to get a suntan...no sunscreen to my memory. We never used anything and camping and sleeping on an airbed, used as a float in the sandy sea during a sunny day, was agony!
I had a skin cancer on my nose about 15 years ago. That was way before PMR or prednisone. Now I have another spot on my nose and have an appointment with my dermatologist next week. In my younger years, before anybody really knew the dangers, I loved having a tan and spent many hours in the sun. Not any more!!!
Thank you all for responding with your own information and for your kind wishes. I do not remember ever being warned that prednisone increased chances of skin cancer. The list of side effects online do not mention it for the most part. There is nothing I can do about all the sunburns I suffered as a child (I am very fair) or the tan I tried to get as a teenager. Fortunately I gave up trying to be tanned, but I did not pay enough attention to staying out of the sun. Although I did not have bad sunburns as an adult, I loved to play tennis and garden and paid little attention to when I was out in the sun. I will be more careful now.
My GP said I should try to expose my skin to the sun to get more Vit D3 ! Presumably if I cover myself with factor 50 it isn't going to be as effective? ..... damned if you do, damned if you don't looks like? Same with Vit D from fats and cholesterol rises too? Also Calcium depletion from proton-pump inhibitors and ulcers? More joys of PMR & Pred.?
Even the cancer charities tell you to expose bare skin to the sun - but for not so long that you start to burn. For most people 10-15 minutes at a time is OK although some will burn quicker if they are very fair. And that is long enough for you to make quite a lot of vit D. Once you have even a slight brown tinge that acts as a sunscreen - a moderate tan is equivalent to Factor 12.
Of course, it all depends on whether you are able to produce vit D from cholesterol in the skin. My production line obviously doesn't function too well as without supplements my blood level just falls away despite being outside quite a lot in an area where we should be able to make vit D all year round!! By age 70 anyone's is producing less than a quarter of what it could at age 20.
This last post? I didn't take it as flippant at all. It is a valid point.
Some say high factor sunscreen doesn't make a difference to vit D production - whilst others say that Factor 8 reduces the amount of vit D produced by 90%. However, you would probably remain in the sun for much longer with the sunscreen on. It's like everything else - you pays your money and takes your choice of opinions from "experts"! Especially when those experts have a financial interest ...
in reply to
There are other meds that cause photosensitivity too. Statins, anti biotics etc...here are some from US website.
When I was on atorvastatin I had to wear sunglasses as my eyes hurt in sunlight.
in reply to
Yes Doxycycline abx given for Lyme disease is photosensitizing too - had to cover up for that 3 weeks. Didn't know I had to do same for the Pred I was prescribed instead !
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