Among skin cancers, melanoma is the most aggressive form: 75% of people diagnosed with advanced melanoma lose their lives in the first year after diagnosis. The best form of skin cancer treatment remains prevention, more accessible than ever, due to technological advances.
If it is caught in the early stages, melanoma is 95% curable. Therefore, skin cancer should be screened not only in summer but also in autumn, after a long exposure to the sun, recommended the dermatologist Lucian Russu (clinic Bioderm Bucharest).
The best method for detecting skin cancer is dermatoscopy. It can detect worrying changes in moles in time, observing the disposition of the pigment and blood vessels microscopically. Thus, an early diagnosis of melanoma and precancerous skin lesions can be made.
The most accurate dermatoscope in the world
Recently, digital dermatoscopy with polarized light was introduced in Romania, which magnifies 140 times the image of moles, full HD, which was presented at the Skin Cancer Congress.
“The introduction of digital dermatoscopy with polarized light, equipped with the Medicam 1,000 camera makes the transition from HD to full HD screening, which can make the difference between benign and malignant and which greatly increases the accuracy in detecting the risk. (…)
We decided to bring this technology to Romania, as part of our mission to fight skin cancer and especially against melanoma, which is the most aggressive skin cancer. After a screening campaign in the Youth Park in the summer, this fall we continue the screening using the most accurate dermatoscopic technology currently available in the world “, said Dr. Lucian Russu, dermatologist, Bioderm Bucharest clinic.
What is this form of cancer
People need to remember that melanoma is the most aggressive form of cancer, which originates in pigment-producing cells called melanocytes.
Due to ultraviolet rays, these cells become abnormal, grow uncontrollably and aggressively invade the surrounding tissues.
The specialist recalls that in recent decades, the frequency of melanoma has increased more than 15 times, affecting more and more young people.
According to data provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation every hour in the world, a person who has this form of cancer dies. In our country, about a third of those diagnosed with melanoma die annually. In fact, Romania has a growing incidence in the last 25 years – from 1.2 to 4.5 / 100,000 people who are diagnosed, according to Globocan statistics.
Who is at risk for this form of cancer
The risk is increased in people with sun-sensitive skin, more precisely, people with light skin, eyes and hair.
Genetic factors are also very important: the presence of numerous moles, personal or family history of skin tumors. Severe and repeated sunburns, especially before the age of 15, are also a factor that should not be neglected. The habit is also very serious artificial tanning at the solarium.
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