Researchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham have discovered an interesting connection between the use of celecoxib (more commonly known as Celebrex) and non-melanoma skin cancers.  A report in the Los Angeles Times (11/29, Roan)  explains that the use of the painkiller “helped prevent skin cancers in patient with precancerous lesions.”  As reported by HealthDay (11/29, Reinberg), researchers followed 240 people with precancerous lesions (AKA: actinic keratosis) who were treated with either Celebrex or a placebo.  Research results showed that the number of new actinic keratosis among the two groups were the same.  But, preliminary data indicated “significant reductions in the risk of cutaneous squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma,” this according to MedPage Today (11/29, Smith).  So although this correlation still needs to be investigated further, it’s an interesting development to all us southern Californians who spent one too may days on the beach without proper sun protection!

Actinic keratosis on the scalp

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