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Link between Psoriasis and Cancer
Is it a myth that Psoriasis increases the risk of cancer or is there any medical study to back it up? Psoriasis is unwanted flaking of skin (scaling and inflammation) that can be seen on any part of the body. Some may get it on hands, some on foot and some on face. What exactly causes Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is considered an ‘autoimmune mediated’ disease. Meaning, the immune system in the body starts attacking body cells thinking that they are foreign microorganisms. Usually the skin on our body is replaced by new skin every few weeks. New cells are generated and they move as the top layer of skin sheds. This is a slower process which is not observed in normal conditions. When a person has Psoriasis, the cells under the skin form new skin rapidly in a matter of days and in the process of that layer coming on top, the top layer flakes and tries shedding. This can also cause terrible itching.
Is there a link between Psoriasis and cancer?
As per a study (ref 1) done on 37 people, psoriasis has showed to increase the risk of different types of cancer including the cancer of upper respiratory/digestive tract, liver, respiratory tract, pancreas and urinary tract. They have also shown increased risk to other diseases too. In a different study (ref 2), Psoriasis has shown to increase the risk of non-melanoma skin cancers, lymphoma cancers, cancer of oral cavity etc.
However, the research didn’t find any connection between psoriasis and colon cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer or leukaemia.
Does treatment of Psoriasis increases the odds of cancer?
Treating Psoriasis mainly involves in medication that slows down the production of new skin cells. This is done by suppressing the body’s immune system.
Another type of treatment uses UltraViolet light therapy for healing of psoriasis patches. This treatment has shown the increased risk of skin cancer in people who have undergone at least 250 sessions of the treatment.
Can cancer cause psoriasis?
No, there is no evidence that cancer can cause psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a lifelong condition. Modern science hasn’t been able to find the root cause of the problem just like 100s of other diseases. Psoriasis increases the risk of cancer but not by a great percentage. Keep in touch with your doctor and take your medication regularly to keep symptoms under control.