Skin cancer: more than 7 million Europeans affected, a majority of “preventable” cases

in collaboration with

Dr. Marie Jourdan (Dermatologist)

A significant figure for a preventable disease. Skin cancer, all types combined, therefore affects more than 7 million Europeans. And yet, most cases, caused by the damage of the sun’s ultraviolet rays to the skin, are preventable.

A survey that involved nearly 45,000 people

The survey, called Burden of skin disease was carried out on 44,689 adults from 27 countries of the European Union. For the authors, there is a need for a “expanding skin cancer education across Europe to help people make safer skin choices“.

Screening following a lesion or mole

The survey shows that a skin lesion or a mole are the two main reasons for consulting a dermatologist. Indeed, in 22.3% of cases, this is what prompted a consultation in the last twelve months. Of those who responded to the survey, “0.6% said they had been diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. However, keratinocyte carcinomas, which include Basel cell and squamous cell carcinomas, are by far the most common and fastest growing of all cancers, with incidence expected to increase by more than 40% to in 2040″.

A lack of education on the subject

For dermatologists, the figure should be close to zero “with more education On the question. For Professor Marie-Aleth Richard, member of the EADV board of directors who is leading the investigation, explains that “the results demonstrate the need for action to prevent skin cancer, which has a good prognosis if detected early but is perceived by the population as a serious and potentially fatal diseasee”.

She also insists on improving “understanding, education and awareness of skin cancer” : “Skin cancer is one of the 40% of preventable cancers and whose incidence we could considerably reduce if we provided more consistent and generalized education to the population.“, she adds.

Impact on professional and personal life

In this survey, people affected by cancer were asked about its impact on their lives. In nearly half of the cases, patients reported feeling “moderately or extremely anxious and depressedAnd almost three in five said they had been impacted in their professional lives.

Dermatologists, skin cancer experts

For more than half of the respondents, the dermatologist was recognized as being “the skin cancer expert” which, according to Professor Richard, “demonstrated the important role of dermatologists”which have an important role to play in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, but also in the prevention and education of the disease.

Reminder on sun prevention

To counter the risk of skin cancer, it is necessary to limit sun exposure at a young age and sunburn, more particularly, which are a factor favoring melanoma. Squamous cell carcinomas are less serious cancers that develop on chronic sun exposure in the elderly who go gardening, play petanque, go on vacation… And be in the sun for a long time without really protecting themselves.

“In addition to sun exposure, UV cabins are also to be avoided: their artificial rays are also dangerous for the health of the skin” recalls Dr. Marie Jourdan, dermatologist and member of the Doctissimo expert committee.

“Deteriorating” cancers

“Melanoma is the most serious skin cancer, it is beginning to be well known to the general public who are afraid of it” says the dermatologist. “But we must not underestimate squamous cell cancers, which tend to be trivialized: we think that the dermatologist will burn the pre-cancerous lesion with nitrogen and that’s it, but not always” alert Marie Jourdan.

Indeed, in some cases unfortunately, the lesion will come back and settle. “These are cancers that remain relatively localized, but when the lesion has to be removed, patients are often surprised at the extent of the surgery that this requires. warn the dermatologist. “Unfortunately, we sometimes have deteriorating surgical treatments, because the area to be removed is important” concludes the specialist, who recalls the importance of regularly showing your skin to a specialist, especially when you have fair skin and are regularly exposed to the sun.