Over 260 cases of melanoma in 11 years

A total of 264 new cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, were reported over an 11-year period between 1993 and 2003, with an overall mortality rate of 19.3 per cent, according to the Maltese National Cancer Registry.

The positive note is that the overall absolute five-year survival rate is going up and while from 1998-2002 it was 74 per cent, between 1998 and 2002 it was 92 per cent.

Dermatology Department head Lawrence Scerri believed that people were living longer because melanoma was being caught earlier, due to a greater awareness.

However, despite greater awareness, there was still a long way to go before people started putting their knowledge on the harmful effects of the sun's UV rays into practice, he added.

In an attempt to continue highlighting the importance that prevention is better than cure and that white is beautiful, another campaign is being organised before the summer kicks in.

This is the sixth year running that Malta is taking part in Euro-Melanoma Day, or Melanoma Monday, and it is vital for those who have suspicious-looking moles or pigmented lesions to make an appointment and go to Boffa Hospital this Monday to have them checked.

The Euro-Melanoma Skin Cancer Campaign, which is being locally coordinated by the Maltese Association of Dermatology and Venereology and the Dermatology Department, in collaboration with the Health Promotion Unit, was launched yesterday.

Dr Scerri was joined by association president Joseph Pace, dermatological consultant Michael Boffa and Health Promotion Department director Mario Spiteri.

In his presentation, Dr Scerri said that while the incidence of melanoma in Malta was lower than that of northern European countries, the island had a marginally higher incidence than its Mediterranean neighbours and it ranked fourth in southern Europe, behind Slovenia, Macedonia and Italy.

He also warned against the use of tanning units, which he said were still harmful and could also contribute to skin cancer.

Yesterday's message at the press conference was loud and clear: prevention and early diagnosis were the only way out. Once the melanoma spreads, there is no turning back.

Describing the properties of melanoma, Dr Boffa said it commonly appeared on the backs of men and was more likely to appear on the legs in women.

Melanoma appears as an irregular brown/black lump or patch anywhere on the skin, or may develop on a pre-existing mole which changes in size, colour or shape.

Various factors are to blame for the increasing number of sun-related cancers in the past few years, most notably the thinning of the ozone layer and an increase in the sunbathing culture.

Melanoma is more likely to occur in somebody with fair, freckled skin than in somebody with dark skin. Persons with numerous moles are also at higher risk.

The link between melanoma and sun exposure is separated by a period of anything between 15 and 40 years. In view of this, sun protection and sun avoidance should start early in children.

And if you thought a tan was sign of health and good looks you had better think again. Tanning is a response to injury because the sun kills some cells on contact and injures others, Dr Boffa said.

Meanwhile, Dr Pace said it was hard to eradicate the mentality promoted by many that a tan was healthy, but they were slowly making inroads.

He spoke about the progress of the Gozo-wide melanoma study, which is being held together with the University of Siena, the University of Melbourne and the Ministry for Gozo.

In this three-year project, the population of Gozo is being screened for early melanoma symptoms, through a computerised state-of-the-art system that uses imaging and completely non-invasive techniques to scan lesions and moles. These are then compared electronically with an extensive databank of similar moles. This is a very efficient way to screen the skin and obtain results in a short time, indicating whether the spot in question is absolutely benign or whether it is best removed and examined in the laboratory.

As part of Euro-Melanoma Day activities a promotion campaign has been launched to make people understand that they had to protect themselves from the sun at all times and not just when they were on the beach.

Apart from the dissemination of printed educational material, a couple of public transport buses have been covered with the message: "The sun does not just burn near the sea".

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority has also deemed it fit to issue a brief leaflet in Maltese precisely on the work done outdoors. The leaflet should be useful for workers, employers and the self-employed. It contains information about the risks posed by the sun and how these can be avoided or minimised them.

A copy can be downloaded from the authority's website: www.ohsa.org.mt

Meanwhile, those who wish to make an appointment for free melanoma screening on Monday can call 298 7105 or 2298 7153.