“During this period, people are afraid to see a doctor, but in terms of cancer prevention and early detection, we must go to a dermatologist for a check-up at a minimum of 1 year,” says Dr. Ion Coteț.
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The reason is simple: the faster the melanoma is detected, the longer the patient’s life expectancy and good prognosis.
What problems do your people have during this period?
Dr. Ion Coteț, primary dermatovenerology doctor, MedLife Brasov: During this period, the number of patients coming to the dermatologist with eczema of the hands and perioral dermatitis increased, favored by the frequent use of disinfectants and wearing protective masks. In addition, we have seen an increase in the number of cases of skin infections with various pathogens, bacteria, viruses, fungi in the context of global decline in patient immunity, probably through a constraint caused by the closure of gyms, swimming pools and the greater tendency to the sedentarism of the people.
What should we pay attention to? What are the signs that should send us to the doctor?
Dr. Ion Coteț: In the context of the current pandemic, however, we should pay extra attention to malignant skin tumors, on the principle that people have begun to address the specialist with acute problems, which bother them at the moment, tending to ignore a possible tumor lesion. older, which, however, has increased recently, but does not bother directly yet and so we have more frequent cases of skin cancer in more advanced stages of evolution by not showing up in time to the specialist.
Why is it recommended to get to the specialist in time?
Dr. Ion Coteț: Malignant melanoma is the skin tumor with the highest degree of metastasis and with unpredictable prognosis and evolution. A melanoma, according to the latest studies, appears in 20% of cases on a pre-existing nevica (mole) lesion, in 80% of cases appearing de novo. For this reason, any new pigmentary lesion that appears in an adult requires dermatological consultation, any change in the shape, color, size of an old pigmented lesion requires control. The faster the melanoma is detected, the longer the patient’s life expectancy and good prognosis.
We have the opportunity, thanks to dermatoscopy, to identify melanoma “in situ”, which gives the patient a normal life after surgery, without the need for other cancer treatment. Any suspicious formation is operated on and a histopathological examination of the lesion is performed. Depending on the result, the therapeutic protocol is established together with the oncologist. A melanoma under 1mm thick has all the chances to heal completely. A tumor thickness of more than 2 mm can have disastrous consequences on subsequent evolution, with possible brain, lung, liver or multi-organ metastases.
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The article is part of the MedLife We do Romania well campaign. http://www.medlife.ro/facem-romania-bine/
We have been with you for 26 years and we do not stop. Because today, more than ever, medicine means fighting through science and knowledge.
From the beginning of civilization, fear is the first thing that strikes you in a pandemic. To get rid of it, we took a series of safety measures, we constantly tested the medical staff, we made sure that all the patients in our clinics and hospitals are protected and treated. We have provided patients with integrated medical services, of increased complexity, in order to meet all their needs.
We are constantly adapting to the present and preparing for the future. We are doing Romania well.
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