The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal

MAY 2012

The 2012 edition of The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal features medically reviewed, reader-friendly articles such as tanning, the increasing incidence of skin cancer diagnoses among young women, & the prevalence of melanoma among white males over 50.

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they have the greatest chance of de- veloping these tumors — skin cancer risks increase over the course of one's lifetime, especially in a long life with continual outdoor exposure. The scarcity of physicians in rural areas compounds the problem. Consequently, many patients seek a doctor's advice only when their tumors are advanced and may be life-threatening and/or difficult to treat. (Recent research shows that far more people die from melanoma in communities without a dermatolo- gist.10 ) Additionally, many cases are not properly reported or registered in the medical statistics. New organizations like The Romanian Skin Cancer Foundation (built on the model of and with the support of The Skin Cancer Foundation) aim to decrease skin cancer incidence and mortality in Romania through public and medical educational programs. RECENT ADVANCES Nonetheless, the situation in Central and Eastern Europe is improving. Today, sun safety information is being disseminated rapidly both through traditional media and the internet, reaching the young and those living in cities first, and then eventually spread- ing to rural areas. Dermatologists are increasing their efforts to raise aware- ness of the disease, and becoming more and more active in European and international skin cancer conferences, where they draw attention to the par- ticular problems of this region. New organizations like The Romanian Skin Cancer Foundation (built on the model of and with the support of The Skin Cancer Foundation) aim to decrease skin cancer incidence and mortality in Romania through public and medical educational programs. Similar non- governmental organizations have arisen in neighboring countries. An important step in the European fight against skin cancer was taken with Euromelanoma — the first pan-European skin cancer preven- tion initiative. Having launched the program in Belgium in 1999, par- ticipating countries offer free public skin cancer screenings for one day in the month of May, together with an intense public information campaign. Euromelanoma has expanded rapidly, and in 2011 more than 30 countries hosted screenings.11 Received with enthusiasm by both members of the public and volunteering dermatolo- gists, the Euromelanoma campaigns were the first nationwide skin cancer screening and prevention campaigns ever reported in several Eastern European countries.7 The fight against skin cancer is also gaining a place on the agenda of political decision makers, both at national and European Union (EU) levels. Building on the work of the European Partnership for Action against Cancer,12 the EU supports various broad initiatives, including multi-national research projects such as EPIDERM and EUROSUN, which analyze the impact of skin cancer risk factors like UV exposure from the sun and the use of tanning beds on people throughout Europe. The UV index (which evaluates and measures expected daily risk of exposure to the sun's UV rays on a scale of 1 to 11+) is monitored at the European level; EU institutions also supervise the implementation of laws limiting harmful UV tanning bed exposure by member countries,13 and a joint action committee on sunbeds aims to enforce the safety requirements for sunbed services.14 The European Partnership for Action against Cancer, initiated by the EU in September 2009, brings together member countries and their Ministries of Health, patient organizations, health professionals, scientists, and private industry in a pan-European collaborative effort to tackle cancer more evenly and effectively across the EU. CONCLUSIONS All these are important and encourag- ing steps, but there is still a long way to go. Close cooperation is necessary to prevent countries from wasting resources on reinventing the wheel. Enhanced education efforts are needed. Public authorities should be more active in promoting public educa- tion and prevention programs, and in implementing regulations for sun safety and tanning bed surveillance. These would help reduce the gaps in the skin cancer burden between dif- ferent European regions and would also support the concept of a united Europe, with multicultural diversity but without health disparities. ANA-MARIA FORSEA, MD, PHD, is Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Elias University Hospital and the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest. She is a member of The Skin Cancer Foundation's International Advisory Council. References available on p.97. 21,000 Every year in Europe, more than 21,000 people are estimated to lose their lives to melanoma.1 Melanoma kills more than 400 people in Europe every week. 400 Melanoma represents about five percent of all skin cancers.2 69

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