December Orange warns about the importance of preventing Skin Cancer

According to data from the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD), skin cancer accounts for 33% of all diagnoses of the disease in Brazil. The National Cancer Institute (INCA) warns that, every year, around 185 thousand new cases arise.

To raise awareness among the population and the importance of preventing skin cancer, since 2014 SBD has been promoting Orange December, an action that is part of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Campaign.

Prevention and protection

According to SBD, avoiding excessive exposure to the sun and protecting the skin from the effects of UV radiation are the best strategies for preventing melanoma and other types of skin tumors.

As the incidence of ultraviolet rays is increasingly aggressive across the planet, people of all skin types must be aware and protect themselves when exposed to the sun. The highest risk groups are phototypes I and II, that is: people with fair skin, freckles, light or red hair and light eyes. In addition to these, those with a family history of skin cancer, sunburn, inability to tan and many moles should also pay extra attention and care.

Among the protection measures highlighted by SBD are:

– Wear hats, t-shirts, sunglasses and sunscreen.

– Cover exposed areas with appropriate clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants and a wide-brimmed hat.

– Avoid, whenever possible, sun exposure and remain in the shade between 10 am and 4 pm (summer time).

– Use sunscreens daily, and not just during leisure or fun times. Use a product that protects against UVA and UVB radiation and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Reapply the product every two hours or less during outdoor leisure activities. When using the product on a daily basis, apply a good amount in the morning and reapply before going out for lunch.

– Regularly observe your own skin, looking for suspicious spots or blemishes.

– Consult a dermatologist at least once a year for a complete examination.

Taking care of those who build

This year, however, the Orange December Campaign gains even more strength with the support of MRV, which has used its construction sites to raise awareness among workers about the relevance of Sunscreen PPE. “Our goal is to reach construction workers and other professionals who work outdoors, as well as society as a whole, with care tips and information about the dangers of unprotected sun exposure,” says Rafael Lafetá, executive director of Sustainability at MRV.

The December Orange Campaign coordinator, director of SBD, Carlos Barcaui, highlights that men, especially in non-recreational situations, have more difficulty using sunscreen, while women are more receptive: “With the campaign we want to reinforce measures for everyone moments of exposure to the sun, not just during leisure time and this MRV campaign is very important to raise awareness not only for workers on construction sites, but for other professionals who work exposed to the sun”.

Rafael Lafetá explains that the company's participation materializes its commitment to valuing the physical, mental and emotional health of workers, which is “Taking care of those who build”. “The initiatives are in different spaces and have construction site employees as their main axis: they are our front line, fundamental agents in the construction of better and more sustainable projects, which shape the transformative power of the homes we deliver. For this reason, they are at the center of multiple actions to promote awareness, information, prevention and behavioral evolution on different topics”, he says, highlighting that among the actions developed are holding lectures with dermatologists at the company's works, consultations with dermatologists to all workers who wish, in addition to the distribution of educational material with SBD approval.

And the results have been quite impressive. “There was an increase in self-care among workers, with more use of sunscreen. And during the consultations, it was discovered that 5 collaborators needed to undergo a biopsy and follow-up due to suspected cancer. This is very gratifying, being able to identify and treat our employees in a timely manner.”

The engagement of MRV employees also proves the importance of the initiative. “MRV is one of the best companies in terms of concern and guidance regarding the health of its employees. And when the disease is skin cancer, it is much better to prevent than to treat. They give us sunscreen to protect us from sun exposure, and they don’t do this with profit in mind, but with employee health”, says Raimundo da Cruz, MRV shipowner.

For Antônio de Sousa Ramalho Ramalho, president of the Civil Construction Workers Union of São Paulo, the action is very important as it alerts workers to the importance of daily skin care. “The skin is our largest organ and deserves special attention, mainly due to the risks associated with skin cancer. Personally, I experienced a cancer diagnosis and this gave me a deep understanding of the relevance of prevention.”

According to Heitor Gonçalves, president of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, it is essential to provide information about prevention to those who work exposed to the sun, such as construction professionals. “We have to demand that governments take action to promote the use of sunscreen. We already have this action with the National Congress and the Ministry of Health”, he highlights.