Beware if you are exposed to too much sun!

An awareness event was organized regarding skin cancer, which is common worldwide and can lead to fatalities. Citizens were informed about skin cancer during screenings conducted in Kayseri, Konya, and Sivas.

Making a statement on the subject, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tosun, a faculty member at Sivas Cumhuriyet University's Department of Dermatology, said, “This week is Euro Melanoma Week. It was initiated by European dermatologists in 1999 to raise awareness about skin health, and our country joined this campaign in 2014. We have a skin cancer disease called melanoma. It is a disease where early diagnosis is important. By raising awareness about it, we aimed to perform evaluations regarding biopsies for moles. We started this morning. Sivas was one of the three centers in the Central Anatolia Region. The other provinces are Konya and Kayseri. We examined our patients with our dermoscopy device here and created their mole maps. If they had suspicious lesions, we made the necessary referrals. We provided the necessary guidance if moles were growing, if there was asymmetry, if the size was over 6 millimeters, if they had numerous moles, if there was a family history of skin cancer, and if there was sun exposure. We wanted to ensure our patients become conscious about these issues.”

''ESPECIALLY THOSE EXPOSED TO TOO MUCH SUN...''

Offering various recommendations to citizens, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tosun stated, “Those who are exposed to too much sun, in particular, must absolutely protect themselves from the sun. Skin cancer cases have increased in recent years. With the depletion of the ozone layer, it has become easier for ultraviolet rays to reach the earth. For this reason, we are seeing more skin cancer cases. If they have moles on exposed areas of the body or a history of skin cancer in their close circle, we provide their check-ups using the necessary devices by having them apply to dermatology outpatient clinics. Early intervention is important. If it is left too late, spreading can occur, and treatment becomes difficult. For this reason, it may be necessary to use chemotherapeutic drugs.”

News Source: İHA