Driver's side skin cancers on the rise

By Martha Kerr

WASHINGTON, DC (Reuters Health) - Asymmetrical skin cancers, especially on the left cheek, scalp, arm and hand are being seen with increasing frequency by dermatologists, a team at St. Louis (Missouri) University School of Medicine reported here on Friday.

At the 65th annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, being held here this week, Dr. Scott Fosko presented data on 898 patients with asymmetrical skin cancers.

Overall, 53 percent of the cancers occurred on the left side of the body. Nearly two thirds (64 percent) of these occurred in men. Fosko said that similar studies conducted in countries where the driver's seat is on the right side of the vehicle had similar distributions of skin cancers on the right side of the head, face and arm.

Basal cell carcinoma, the least aggressive type of skin cancer, was the cause of 608 of the cancers, while squamous cell carcinoma was the cell type in 178 skin cancers. Squamous cell cancers are usually not serious if they are identified early and treated promptly. If not, they can be difficult to treat and cause disfigurement.

"But of interest, we are seeing a particular type of melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma in situ, that is occurring in younger patients and it can be very aggressive," Fosko told meeting attendees.

Fosko's team conducted a survey of patients with biopsy-proven skin cancers, collecting data on their driving habits, such as whether they tend to drive with the windows up or down, use sunscreen and other related habits.

"We saw trends according age brackets," Fosko said. For example, patients younger than 70 years of age had driven more years and spent more time per week driving than their older counterparts.

Men spent three or more hours more per week driving, while women spent about one hour a week driving. Men spent 91 percent of their driving time in the driver's seat. Drivers spent a considerable amount of time driving with the windows open.

"We have some obvious concerns about this," Fosko said. "Children are starting to drive at a younger age and are driving for longer periods" than previously, making them more susceptible than individuals who begin driving later in life.

The St. Louis investigator said the trend is for cars to be made with larger windows, moon roofs are a favorite accessory and tinted glass is not used on the driver's window. UV protection with tinting only lasts for about five years, Fosko noted.

In addition, "laminating really helps block penetrating ultra-violet rays, especially UVBs, but UVA is not being blocked...A UV shield has been developed but there is little interest (by manufacturers) to use it," Fosko said.

In the meantime, while technology to block UV rays catches on, Fosko recommends driving with the windows up and using sun block.