Skin cancer is growing

There is a continued increase in the annual incidence of melanoma in Catalonia of 2.53% in men and 5.29% in women, according to a report of the ICO
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the Council on the effects of an incorrect exposure to the sun, to the increased incidence of skin cancer. Photo: Press Service DDB.

To prepare for the current summer campaign of the Province of Barcelona beaches Care Take care of yourself and you, the Department of Public Health and Consumer Affairs commissioned a study at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), which indicates that "in Recent years have seen a continued increase in the annual incidence of melanoma in the order of 2.53% in men and 5.29% in women. "



The study, "the importance of this type of cancer is its high invasive capacity, ie, to generate metastasis (spread to distant organs of a malignant primary tumor) which reduces the chances of cure. If diagnosed and treated in the early stages, the cure rates of melanoma are high. "

"In Catalonia, approximately 776 diagnosed cases of melanoma each year, with a higher proportion in women than in men (542 women and 234 men), representing 2.9% of all cancer cases in women and 1, 5% in men. The mortality rate for melanoma represents about 2.15% of cancer mortality in men and 0.95% in women. "

"In recent years there has been a continued increase in the annual incidence of around 2.53% in men and 5.29% in women, as well as mortality in both men and women ( 0.83% and 1.45% respectively). This increase in the incidence, according to experts, would result in greater exposure to solar radicacions and artificial changes in the habits of exposure. It is considered that approximately 65% ​​to 90% of melanomas are caused by exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation.

Melanoma is associated with episodes of sunburn. The risk of melanoma is greater when there is a pattern of intermittent but intense sun exposure to episodes of sunburn, as is typical of the holiday. The consequences of this pattern of exposure are particularly important in children and adolescents and at-skinned people have a higher risk of burns. "

The result of these considerations, the Department decided to reinforce his campaign with advice on exposure to sunlight which includes the classic range, which it distributed 40,000 units this year to councils of the 25 coastal municipalities of the province as part of that campaign summer and beaches this year and the beaches Care Take care you.