The importance of raising awareness and early detection of melanoma was brought to the fore yesterday as Euro-Melanoma Day draws closer.
Chairman of the Dermatology Department Lawrence Scerri was categorical in his statement: “raising awareness and early detection of melanoma are the cornerstones of fighting the disease”.
Malta is a hot country that is getting hotter, as the UV index continues to soar upwards. Dr Scerri said that the incidence of melanoma is on the rise across both sexes, claiming 11 lives last year.
The main causes of skin cancer are repeated sunburn and early exposure during childhood. People with a genetic disposition, such as those with fair skin, should be extra vigilant. He said that it is important to watch for the signs, pointing out that melanoma normally appears as a brown or black patch or a lump with irregular features.
We often underestimate the power of the sun. Charmaine Gauci, director of health promotion, warned that all Ultra Violet (UV) rays are potentially harmful, be they UV-A or UV-B, and she advised that people should stay indoors between the hours of 11am and 4pm if possible. We are sometimes ignorant, thinking that because most of us are olive-skinned, we are not at risk. It is quite clear that this simply isn’t true.
The experts said that the sun is so strong that people who are out and about between 11am and 4pm should actually wear clothes that cover the skin, preferably sticking to a breathable material such as cotton.
A consultant at the department of dermatology said that people should not be afraid to seek professional advice when they are in doubt about a mole or legion. Anyone who has identified a melanoma early, and sought treatment can attest that the treatment is simple enough, again, if caught early. The issue with melanoma is the roots that it grows into the body, and if left unchecked, it can be fatal. In addition, the longer it is left untreated, the worse the scarring will be when it is removed.
Another preventive measure is the use of wide brimmed hats and the regular application of sunscreen. Of course, lying in the sun and baking beside the sea is a surefire way to develop the disease.
As part of the campaign, the department of dermatology, in collaboration with the health promotion department will be holding a skin cancer screening clinic on 29 April in the department of dermatology, Boffa Hospital, and this is to be commended. But screening alone will not do the job. We all need to actively take measures to reduce the risk of contraction.