Skin cancer, like the one treated by the religious leader Monja Coen, is the most common type of disease in Brazil, according to the National Cancer Institute (Inca), and corresponds to 30% of malignant tumors registered in the country annually. By 2025, the estimate is that we will register 704 thousand new cases. Early detection exponentially increases the chances of a cure, experts warn, and sun protection is essential in prevention.
O skin cancer It is more common after the age of 50, but can appear at any age, especially if there is a family history of the disease. There are basically three types of skin cancer. The most common is the basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which appears when basal cells, located in the lower part of the epidermis, begin to multiply irregularly. This type of cancer is generally related to excessive sun exposure.
Another relatively common type is the so-called squamous cell carcinomawhich affects the squamous cells present in the most superficial layer of the epidermis.
Finally, there is the melanomawhich is the rarest and often most aggressive type of skin cancer, and originates in cells that produce melanin – the protein that determines skin color.
The main symptoms of skin cancer are moles that increase in size, have an irregular shape, change color, itch or bleed. Some lesions may have an appearance more similar to a wart, with reddish nodules and rougher spots. The definitive diagnosis is made through a biopsy of the tumor.
When skin cancer is detected early, treatment is usually surgical, with removal of the tumor. If the disease is at a more advanced stage, other treatments may be necessary, such as immunotherapy – which stimulates the immune system itself to fight cancer – and target therapy, with the use of specific drugs to combat cancer cells. A radiotherapy and the chemotherapy can also be used.
The use of sunscreen is essential to prevent skin cancer. See below other recommendations from the Ministry of Health to prevent the disease or diagnose it early:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun between 10am and 4pm
- Look for shady places
- Wear appropriate protection, such as clothing, caps or wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses with UV protection, umbrellas and tents
- Before exposing yourself to the sun, apply a sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 30 to your skin. It is necessary to reapply sunscreen every two hours, during sun exposure, as well as after diving or heavy sweating. Even “waterproof” sunscreens should be reapplied
- Use sunscreen suitable for your lips
- On cloudy days, it is also important to use protection
- Tattoos can hide injuries, therefore they deserve attention
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