Common anti-inflammatory pills may help reduce skin cancer risk

anti-inflammatory pillsWashington, Dec 19 : A new study has revealed that some anti-inflammatory drugs have the potential to prevent the second most common type of skin cancer.

Scientists at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute said that these drugs could be particularly beneficial to people at high risk of developing these cancers.

Dr Catherine Olsen said that this is the best evidence to date of the effect of NSAIDS on squamous cell skin cancer and clinicians can now take this into consideration when prescribing anti-inflammatory medication for their patients with other sun-induced skin tumours who may be at high risk of SCC.

Dr Olsen said there can be side-effects with both aspirin and other NSAID use - and people should talk to their general practitioner before taking any medication to reduce their skin cancer risk.

Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most frequently occurring cancers world-wide and is a significant public health burden in Australia affecting six in every 1,000 Australians each year.

The analysis also suggested a decreased risk of SCC associated with aspirin use, but this finding was not statistically significant.

The paper was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (ANI)