European Day for the Prevention of Skin Cancer

Half of the tumors discovered in the world are skin cancer. Skin cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, if diagnosed in time: 95% of these can be cured.

Even so, skin cancer episodes have increased in recent decades, especially in the young population and more specifically in women, perhaps because they tend to be the group most concerned about obtaining a tanned skin tone. Since the 1970s there have been more cases of skin cancer than the sum of all other types of cancer combined.

One of the characteristics that make skin cancer more elusive is that it is not noticed until twenty years after excessive exposure to sunlight, whose ultraviolet or UV radiation constitutes the greatest risk factor. This suggests that almost all the cases found today come from a time when it was fashionable to get a tan in the sun without taking precautions.

If we also consider that 80% of sun damage occurs before the age of 18, childhood education and protection are essential to avoid future cases.