May is Melanoma Awareness Month. This is a malignant neoplasm of the skin, one of the most dangerous diseases among all skin cancers, because it spreads through the lymph and blood to almost all organs. So, to protect themselves, doctors invite everyone to undergo an examination.
“Screening is one of the forms of early detection of malignant tumors during preventive examination. If you notice any signs that indicate melanoma, do not delay and contact your family doctor. You can undergo a free examination with the guidance of a family doctor. But this month, if you don’t have a signed declaration, you can undergo an examination by a doctor on duty in city medical institutions,” the health care department of the Lviv City Council notes.
In particular, you can undergo an examination by a doctor on duty at the following addresses:
– KNP “1st City Polyclinic” (Ruska St., 20, phone: 067-522-31-05);
– KNP “2nd City Polyclinic” (Symonenko St., 4. phone: 067-676-38-89);
– KNP “3rd City Polyclinic” (Povitryana St., 99, phone: 063-110-62-42);
– KNP “4th City Polyclinic” (68 Chervonoi Kalina Ave., tel. 288-12-98, 243-03-50);
– KNP “5th City Clinical Polyclinic” (32 Vyhovsky St., tel. 097-418-05-77, 063-380-88-67);
– KNP “6th city polyclinic” (Medovoy Pechery St., 1. tel. 247-04-80);
– KNP “First Territorial Medical Association of Lviv” (25 Mazepy St., tel. 0800-333-003);
– KNP “Second Territorial Medical Association of Lviv” (Chuprynki St., 43, Fredra St., 2, Lemkivska St., 28. tel. 067-150-16-17);
– CNP “Third Territorial Medical Association of Lviv” (Ozarkevicha St., 2. Tel. 259-31-03, Shevchenko St., 350. Tel. 259-33-88).
certificate
Melanoma is localized, for the most part, in the skin, much less often – in the retina of the eye, on mucous membranes (oral and nasal cavity, perianal and vulvovaginal areas), etc. Melanoma spreads through lymph and blood to almost all organs.
The main risk factors for the development of melanoma are light skin, light hair and light eyes. At the same time, the risk of melanoma formation increases depending on the place of residence: the closer to the equator, the higher the probability of its occurrence; swallows and red hair; a large number of birthmarks; skin phototypes I-II; melanoma in the family history; severe sunburns in childhood; giant congenital pigmented birthmarks; artificial tanning; PUVA therapy (from English Psoralen+UltraViolet A, treatment with long-wave ultraviolet radiation and psoralens).
To prevent the occurrence of melanoma: avoid sunburn of the skin – use protective creams (SPF at least 15); avoid skin contact in the area of moles with chemical irritants; in sunny weather, wear loose, light clothing that will cover bare parts of the body. Do not forget about a hat or a panama (especially men who have a partial hair cover on their head or do not have it at all, because this is where melanomas often occur in men); refuse artificial tanning; avoid traumatizing moles; regularly examine your skin and the skin of your loved ones. If you are in the risk group, consult your doctor about the frequency of preventive screening.