For shady moles, short-term high-powered doses of radiation might be a more effective form of skin cancer treatment than scientists previously thought, according to a new study recently published in the journal Radiotherapy & Oncology.
Basal and squamous cell carcinomas aren't uncommon, as 5.4 million cases are diagnosed each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Although both cancers aren't as dangerous as melanomas (less than one percent of people die from them), we're still talking about skin cancer, which still needs to be treated.
Typically, these cancerous spots, which often look like moles or freckles, are removed surgically, but in spots where removal is tricky (like areas where the skin is thinnest, such as near the eyes, nose, or lips), or in cases where the cancer has progressed, radiation is often used to zap the cancerous cells. "It's similar to getting an X-ray, but a much stronger amount of radiation and much more precise," Lance Brown, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU School of Medicine, tells Allure. "The procedure is painless and only lasts a few minutes."
While radiation zaps the cancerous cells, it also affects the healthy skin cells, Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, tells Allure. "After treatment, many people sustain some degree of skin damage, known as radiation dermatitis," he says. "It has traditionally been thought that the higher the amount of energy per treatment, the fewer the number of treatments you need, but the higher the risk of developing general skin damage to that area."
There are two ways to use radiation: Option A is to give lower doses of radiation over a longer period of time, which would include daily trips to the dermatologist, which can quickly become costly. Option B is to give fewer, more high-powered doses and risk causing damage.
"The way I think of radiation is it's like building a brick wall," study co-lead author Nicholas G. Zaorsky, assistant professor of radiation oncology at Penn State College of Medicine, said in a review of the research. "We know how big the wall has to be to kill the cancer cells, but the question is how big do we make the bricks? Historically, we've made the bricks tiny — so if it's over six weeks, five days a week, it's about 30 treatments." What researchers didn't know until recently was how big they could make the bricks to build a wall even faster while still protecting the skin from damage.
To figure it out, a team of researchers at Penn State College of Medicine conducted a meta-analysis of studies to examine the long-term effects of the different strategies for radiation. Altogether, they looked at data from almost 10,000 patients, who were followed up with for between one and six years after receiving radiation therapy.
The researchers found virtually no difference between the two radiation therapies. Only about 20 percent of the patients who'd received fewer high-dose radiation treatments had negative cosmetic impacts from the treatment — similar to patients who'd received the lower doses. Cancer recurrence rates were also comparable between the two courses of treatment (in all cases it was rare). In other words, a few high-powered doses of radiation might be a preferable way to treat basal and squamous cell cancers when surgery isn't an option.
If your doctor does opt for radiation treatment, you can help prevent skin damage from showing your skin some extra love, says Zeichner. "If you are getting radiation it is important to take care of your skin barrier, like using good moisturizers on a regular basis to minimize the risk of developing radiation dermatitis."
The research is especially important for elderly patients (the demographic on whom this particular research is based), who are more likely to have these types of cancer and also might have a tougher time getting to the doctor for daily treatments. "The takeaway is that most elderly patients, and most patients with skin cancer, can get a short course of radiation — just a few treatments — instead of coming in for radiation almost every day for six weeks," Zaorsky says. "And the cosmetic result will be just as good."
More on preventing skin cancer:
- We Finally Know How the Sun Causes Skin Cancer
- This New Device Might Be the Secret to Diagnosing Skin Cancer
- A Manicurist Just Spotted a Deadly Skin Cancer Under Her Client's Nail
Now, watch how skin care has evolved in the last 100 years:
