1,400 cases of skin cancer were diagnosed in the province

As we move into late summer, many people have already enjoyed their summer holidays at the beach, in the country or by the pool, and thus have more exposure to the sun, which is an ideal time to detect and diagnose early lesions that, if treated quickly, do not lead to skin cancer, or Its most severe and aggressive form, melanoma.

Although the incidence rate in Albacete has not changed significantly over the past two years, it must be taken into account that around 1,400 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the province every year, “so we are talking about a very common pathology in our environment”.

Dr. Eduardo Escario, head of the dermatology service at the Integrated Care Management Center of Albacete, points out that not all cases are detected by dermatologists, but that these malignancies are also detected by other professionals, such as otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists or other expert.

Dr. Escario assures that while skin cancer, unlike other cancers, is visible and, in many cases, preventable, it can be repeated with adequate sun protection from an early age and every summer as the season rolls around. Other simple hints repeated to us over and over again, “At this point, no one doubts that ‘the main cause of skin cancer is too much sun radiation’ and that ‘childhood burns are one of the main factors associated with melanoma and other skin cancers. one”.

But on top of that, there are some patients who relapse during their lifetime, meaning they get more than one type of skin cancer. The director of the dermatology department at the University Hospital of Albacete noted that there are different risk factors for skin cancer, including a history of sunburn, as “presence of one or more sunburn blisters during childhood or adolescence” increases the risk of developing skin cancer in adulthood. Risk of cancer; If a relative has the disease, or if the patient has had it before and has fair skin due to less pigment (melanin), then protection from UV radiation is poorer. Those with many moles or atypical moles are also at greater risk of skin cancer as well as precancerous skin lesions such as actinic keratoses, which are commonly found on the face, head, and hands. In addition, a weakened immune system, radiation therapy for skin conditions such as eczema and acne, and exposure to certain substances, such as arsenic, can also increase the risk of developing the condition.

«Cancer in general, and skin cancer in particular, occurs because the genetic apparatus in the cell is altered by certain carcinogens, in the case of skin cancer, due to changes in genes caused by ultraviolet rays, especially B light, but also A light. In the organ of skin cells, these mutations are in many cases repaired or eliminated by the defense system itself, but this is not the case when there are long-term effects, added dermatologist Eduardo Escario , the accumulation of these mutations over many years can lead to cancer. It is for this reason that “the skin is said to have a memory because it accumulates mutations throughout life, and many mutations manifest very late, such as squamous cell carcinomas, which most often manifest after the age of 75, and it actually It doesn’t happen to anyone under 50.”

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