Skin cancer is the most frequent in Brazil and worldwide, representing about 30% of all malignant tumors in the country, according to the National Cancer Institute (INCA). And although healing rates are high, there are serious subtypes that can lead to metastases (when the tumor spreads to other regions of the organism).
The theme will be discussing in “CNN Vital Signs – Dr. Kalil Interview This Saturday (24). In it, the Dr. Roberto Kalil Interview Marco Antônio Oliveira, dermatologist at AC Camargo Hospital, and Paula Bellotti, also a dermatologist.
Skin cancer can be divided into two types: melanoma and non -melanoma the second being the most frequent in Brazil. Nevertheless, melanoma is the most severe type due to its high possibility of causing metastasis.
According to Oliveira, carcinomas develop slower, and allow more time between diagnosis and treatment. “Melanoma, no. It is a more aggressive tumor, which generates metastasis and can lead to death if not treated early.”
However, according to Paula Bellotti, about 80% of Brazilians are unaware of melanoma. “Many times, the person does not even know that the skin is an organ, and is not aware of the early diagnosis, which gives 90% chance of healing,” he says.
The two main risk factors are genetic predisposition and sun exposure, especially without protection. Experts warn that the sun has a cumulative effect on the skin.
“We expose ourselves from childhood, adolescence, to adulthood. In this young phase, we went there, was sunny, was red, peeling and thought it was out there. Today we know no. The sun will hurt our skin and the cell DNA every day, the few.
Therefore, experts reinforce: sunscreen and sun exposure outside ultraviolet radiation peak hours, which is between 11am and 15h.
Bellotti also emphasizes the importance of sun protection in children. “Sol burning in childhood increases – and a lot – the risk of developing skin cancer in adulthood. So, from six months of age we can already use sun protection in children,” he says.
Tanning culture is villain against the skin
During the conversation, both dermatologists warn of the tanning culture, popular in Brazil.
“I, in my day, even passed Coca-Cola in my body, Urucum (to tan). But we didn’t have all this information. And today it is unbelievable what still exists,” says Bellotti, referring to false news and social media. “These are absurd that we try to demystify, because misinformation is very large and severe,” he warns.
The same goes for artificial tanning. Although tanning chambers are banned in the country by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), dermatologists explain that there are still those who do, despite the risks.
“There is no safety dose, even calibrating a lamp, you can’t ensure that that irradiation will be safe for the formation of skin cancer,” said Oliveira.
Alert Signs for Skin Cancer
Among the main symptoms of skin cancer are stains that scratch, peel or bleed; signs or spots that change in size, shape or color; and wounds that do not scar in four weeks.
“We have the ‘ABCDE’ rule. So, ‘asymmetry’, that is, one side is different from the other. Then the ‘edges’ of this stain or spot are irregular. The ‘color’ in various shades, ranging from brown, black, blue, red. Then the ‘dimension’, ie,, ie, [é importante] be aware of lesions larger than six millimeters. And the ‘evolution’ also of a stain. For example, bleeding, changed color, increased in size… ”lists Bellotti.
The most affected areas of the body are exactly those most exposed to the sun. “But this does not mean that you cannot have skin cancer in non -exposed areas,” says the dermatologist.
Even experts demystify the idea that black skin has no skin cancer. “Clear skins are more susceptible, but black skins can also have skin cancer, which behaves differently and, therefore, are not always diagnosed early,” says Bellotti.
The “CNN Vital Signs – Dr. Kalil Interview” airs on Saturday, May 24, at 7:30 pm, at CNN Brazil.
This content was originally published in “Disinformation is great,” says Kalil about Skin Cancer on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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