The Primary Care 2011 exhibition took place at the NEC Birmingham in May, where thousands of primary care professionals enjoyed visiting numerous stands, attending seminars and generally networking within their industry. Schuco sponsored the event and the team was there demonstrating their devices and offering education about skin care.
Anthony Hubbard, MD of Schuco delivers a talk on Skin Cancer and demonstrates the MoleMate
Anthony Hubbard, MD of Schuco delivered a seminar on Skin Cancer and how Schuco devices help GPs cut down on the volume and cost of referrals by accurately and confidently assessing suspicious skin lesions within their practice.
Anthony said the way to avoid skin cancer is by; a) being sun smart and b) avoiding tanning beds.
According to Cancer Research UK:
In 2008 around 11,770 new cases of malignant melanoma were diagnosed in the UK and more than 98,800 non-melanoma skin cancers were registered.
In 2008 around 2,560 people in the UK died from skin cancer. Around 2,070 from malignant melanoma and around 500 from non-melanoma skin cancer.
Those who live in sunny climates like Australia and New Zealand are at a greater risk, however it does not mean you can afford to be unconcerned if you live in Europe.
Crowd listens to talk on Skin Cancer
The frequency of skin cancer cases in the UK has risen drastically in recent years and in April 2011 Switzerland was deemed to have the third highest rate of skin cancer globally.
Fortunately, skin cancer is preventable for the conscious individual. “Your skin requires only 20 minutes a day to absorb enough vitamin D; and it does not have to be in the middle of the day when the sun is at it’s strongest”, said Anthony.
From a young age, Australians are taught “Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap”; the motto of long term campaign for sun smart practices. It reminds people to slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat and wrap on some sunglasses. By following these principles when in the sun and avoiding being in the sun for extended periods, you will be protecting yourself from the risk of skin cancer. Tanning beds and solariums are also known contributors to skin cancer rates and should be avoided.
Finally, if you notice that you have developed moles of skin lesions, it is important to keep a check on them and look for the following signs (ABCD):
Asymmetry: Is one of the sides different to the other?
Border: Is the border irregular or smooth?
Colour: Has the colour changed at all?
Diameter: Is it 6mm or bigger?
Schuco stand at the Primary Care Event
If you find a skin lesion has changed, make sure to mention it to your GP on your next visit. If possible, take pictures of the changing mole to show to your doctor.
For GPs and skin specialists, one of Schuco’s most popular devices is the MoleMate. This device scans suspicious moles and the intuitive software guides you through a process of discerning whether or not the mole needs further attention. The MoleMate provides confidence for you and your patient as well as reducing the need for referrals. You will find further information about the MoleMate here.
By avoiding skin cancer in the first place, and then detecting it at the earliest stage, we can reduce the rates of skin cancer in the UK.
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