In view of the European Day of Skin Cancer Prevention, Dr Ramon Grimalt, dermatologist and lecturer from the Bachelor's Degree in Medicine at UIC Barcelona, has revealed that future skin cancer treatments will include vaccines and personalised medication. The expert has also stressed the need to improve how we diagnose this type of cancer “so that we see fewer advanced cases of the disease”.

 

Grimalt explains how basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of cancer, with a survival rate of over 90%. However, melanoma, which affects nearly 4,000 people in Spain each year, is the most serious and aggressive form of skin cancer and has a much lower survival rate. The lecturer also pointed out that non-metastatic melanomas are cured in 100% of cases, but that if it has already passed into the bloodstream, the prognosis can be much worse. 

 

In order to help prevent skin cancer, Ramon Giralt recommends avoiding sun exposure, altering your holiday plans and habits, staying in the shade for longer and wearing long sleeves to help cover your skin. “This year we have to be even more careful after having been in isolation due to COVID-19, and very careful when we first go out in the sun to avoid getting burned”, he stated.