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3 years ago I was put on immunosuppressants following a transplant. One of the side effects of this medication is higher risk of skin cancer. Back in the 80's I also used sun beds far too often.

I am currently awaiting the results of a biopsy to see if I have a Basal Cell Carcinoma on the side of my nose.

Would this have been as a result of the medication I am on or would it date back to the sun beds. In other words, how many years does it take for skin cancer to appear? Is it decades or can it be sooner? I always burnt in the sun which is why I naively thought at the time sun beds were the safer option.

Incidentally I remember as a child my parents giving us some tablets which I think were called Silver Sun which apparently the BA pilots used to use to stop them getting burnt. I'm now in my late 50's so this was a long time ago but I'm sure I've got the name right.

Thank you for your question. In you case this is likely to be due to a combination of your medications and past excessive exposure to sun light. It can take 10. 20 and even 50 years for sun light to catch up with patients and cause skin cancers I am afraid.
but I do hope that your biopsy will not show a skin cancer.

I hope this is helpful.
With Best Wishes,

Dr Anton Alexandroff FRCP(UK) PhD CCT(Derm) FRSM FAAD
Consultant Dermatologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer
The British Skin Foundation Spokesperson
London, Cambridge, Leicester and Bedford

http://www.alexandroff.org.uk
Instagram your_skin_dr
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Hello

Thank you for posting the question. The answer to your question is both, the history of sun bed use/ sun exposure and post transplant immunosuppression are contributory to skin cancers. For Basal Cell Carcinomas, the role of sun burn during childhood is more relevant than overall sun exposure. So the 'incubation' can be many decades. The risk of Squamous cell carcinoma is higher with organ transplant related immunosuppression but Basal Cell Carcinomas are also commonly seen.

Hope you get your Basal Cell Carcinoma treated and if possible please ask your dermatologist to refer you for Mohs micrographic surgery.https://www.ukdermatologist.co.uk/mohs-surgery/

All the best,

Vishal

Dr. V Madan, M.B.B.S (Hons), M.D, FRCP, CCT Dermatology
President, British Medical Laser Association
Consultant Dermatologist and Clinical Director
Everything Skin Clinic
p: 01615091294
a: Suite B, Haw Bank House
Cheadle, SK8 1AL
w: http://www.everythingskin.co.uk e: info@everythingskin.co.uk