Skin cancer as an occupational disease

Skin cancer can be recognized as an occupational disease

13/09/2013

Skin cancer can be recognized as an occupational disease under certain conditions. This applies to people who have been exposed to the sun for many years during their work and suffer from actinic keratosis - a precursor of white skin cancer - or squamous cell carcinoma. This informs the German statutory accident insurance (DGUV).

Under certain conditions, skin cancer can be recognized as an occupational disease
For a disease to be recognized as an occupational disease, it must be scientifically proven that certain occupational groups are at a higher risk for the disease than the rest of the population. This evidence has now been confirmed in the case of certain skin cancers by the Medical Expert Advisory Committee on Occupational Diseases at the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinomas can therefore be recognized as occupational diseases if the person has been exposed to the sun for many years while working. The direct sunlight causes skin damage, which can subsequently develop into skin cancer.

Another requirement for the recognition of skin cancer as an occupational disease is a confirmed diagnosis for the disease „Squamous cell carcinoma "or „multiple actinic keratosis. "Individual actinic keratoses are not considered an occupational disease, and exposed skin must be exposed to the sun for many years without being covered by clothing, and occupational disease can only be recognized if the occupational exposure to sunlight is at least 40 percent For 50-year-olds, this translates into full-time work in the open air in about 15 years, and around age 60. The skin type does not matter.

Skin cancer has not been officially included in the list of occupational diseases
Most of the people affected are employees in agriculture, crafts, construction, at sea or occupational groups such as lifeguards. Although skin cancer has not yet been included in the occupational disease list, accident insurers and professional associations can treat actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma in the same way as with an occupational disease. „As the regulator, the federal government is now required to quickly complete the list of occupational diseases, "says DGUV CEO Dr. Joachim Breuer.

First and foremost, it is about the cost of treatment. For those insured in the statutory accident insurance usually pay nothing. If there is a suspicion that there is a connection between the skin cancer and the professional activity, the company doctor or treating physician should be informed about it, advises the DGUV. This will then make a report to the statutory accident insurance.

White skin cancer has good chances of recovery
So far, only actinic keratoses or squamous cell carcinoma are recognized as occupational diseases. For other skin cancers such as melanoma and basal cell carcinoma there are no scientific findings regarding a work-related relationship.

Actinic keratosis or squamous cell carcinoma belong to the so-called white skin cancer, which usually has good chances of recovery if treated early. Actinic keratoses are scaly skin lesions due to UV radiation, which according to the European Skin Cancer Foundation (ESCF) develop in about ten percent of cases to bright skin cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant skin cancer that affects the upper layers of the skin, the so-called epithelium. It is the second most common malignant skin cancer in humans. Both actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma occur preferentially on skin sites that are exposed directly to the sun. These include the face, the neck, the décolleté and the backs of the hands. Most are those affected 50 years and older, when the disease shows. (Ag)