Analysis of the Skin Basocellular Carcinoma (BCC) Among the Smokers in Bosnia and Herzegovina

AIM: The aim of this article is to determine the possible correlation between the smoking habit and the incidence of basocellular skin cancer (BCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective study, which lasted from June 2012 to June 2018, included subjects diagnosed with basocellular skin cancer (BCC). Respondents were divided into 3 groups. The first, group A (21 respondents), are respondents who smoke 20-35 cigarettes a day. The second, group B (19 respondents), consists of respondents who smoke 35-50 cigarettes a day. The third, group C (91 respondents), consist of non-smokers. Observed parameters are sex, age, current and previous smoking habits, including duration (total smoking year) and intensity (average number of cigarettes smoked per day), age at the start of smoking, and prolonged exposure to the sun. RESULTS: No statistically significant relationship was found between smoking and BCC frequency. It was shown that with BCC of the skin was more affected those who did not smoke. There is no clear relationship between the duration of smoking and/or the amount of smoking and the development of BCC, and it follows that this relationship is not likely to be causative. A suggestive, but not significant, evidence of relationship between smoking and skin cancer is found at this time. CONCLUSION: Since it is a conglomerate of possible etiological factors, further research is needed to definitively clarify the effect of tobacco consumption on the development of BCC by monitoring a larger number of respondents over a longer period of time in large prospective studies. In any case, a possible association with skin cancer is a reason to avoid smoking.