Early Detection of Melanoma Skin Cancer

Abstract

Primary skin melanoma and skin cancers have been more prevalent in the last decades and therefore have become a very significant public health problem. In May 2008 Dermatologists of the Skin and Venereal Diseases Clinic of the University of Sarajevo Clinics Centre have initiated the first public preventive action called "Days of Fighting Melanoma".The objective of the campaign was to provide free dermatological examinations for all volunteers and also inform through the media a wider population on early signs and recognition of skin cancer, including sun protection. A total of 325 citizens were examined clinically and with dermatoscope in the period between 5 and 31 May 2008 and the results also included histological diagnoses: 7 patients with proven melanoma, 30 with basal cell carcinoma and 2 with spinocellular carcinoma. The results have indicated a need to expand this campaign to other towns of our country in order to show importance of early detection of the disease and treatment options.

Keywords

• melanoma
• skin cancer
• screening
• prevention