Slovenian oncologists raise public awareness on the risk factors for the development of skin cancer

Protect your skin

20. 5. 2022

Approximately 600 people in Slovenia are diagnosed with melanoma each year (precisely 652 in2020).1 The skin melanoma is one of the five most common forms of cancer among the Slovenian population.1 With 3.8 fatalities out of 100,000 people, Slovenia is at second place among 27 countries of the EuropeanUnion.1 On average, approximately 125 people die each year in Slovenia due to a malignant skin melanoma.

Since excessive sunbathing is one of the main reasons for the development of skin cancer or melanoma,1 raising awareness on the dangers of the sun can save lives. Slovenian oncologists are well aware of this fact, which is why as summer approaches they have been raising public awareness on the risk factors for the development of skin cancer for several years now.

The Medical Oncology Section of the Slovenian Medical Association in cooperation with the Division of Medical Oncology at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana is preparing an extensive awareness campaign on the significance of prevention of the development of skin cancer. Novartis is also being socially responsible and supports the awareness campaign, through which we will raise public awareness on the risk factors for the development of skin cancer or melanoma.

Information booths will be set up every Saturday from May 21 to June 18 at places where the campaign will reach the greatest possible number of visitors: in shopping malls across Slovenia, and the campaign will conclude at the beach in Portorož.

A team of medicine students will present to the passersby the most common risk factors and emphasize the characteristic signs that can help us in the early discovery of the development of skin cancer. They will discuss preventive action with the visitors and answer their questions regarding skin cancer. They will advise them where to turn for help and where to seek treatment in case they notice suspicious skin changes.

To illustrate the development of skin melanoma, Novartis prepared an instructive and explicit video recording in which visitors can use 3D glasses or an LCD screen to watch the initial phase of malignant skin change and this way in a graphical way familiarize themselves with the process of the development of skin cancer.

Visit information booths across Slovenia:

Ljubljana - City Park
May 21
Nova Gorica - Supernova
May 21
Maribor - Europark
May 28
Celje – City Center
May 28
Murska Sobota – BTC City
June 4
Kranj - Supernova
June 4
Slovenj Gradec - Supernova
June 11
Portorož - plaža
June 18

Source:

  1. Clinical Registry Skin Melanoma Report in the Cancer Registry of Republic of Slovenia for the period 2017-2020. Accessible at: https://www.onko-i.si/fileadmin/onko/datoteke/rrs/kr/melanom/Porocilo_Klinicnega_registra_koznega_melanoma_pri_Registru_raka_RS_za_obdobje_2017-2020__izdano_l._2022_.pdf. Last accessed on: May 12, 2022