Viecuri has launched a campaign today to raise awareness about the dangers of the sun. A large banner and pumps of sunscreen is what you see when you enter the Viecuri Medical Center in Venlo and Venray.
“Not only prolonged and unprotected sunbathing can lead to skin cancer,” says dermatologist Karen van Poppelen.
Most common shape
Skin cancer is currently the most common form of cancer in the Netherlands. About one in six Dutch people has to deal with skin cancer. “In the past 25 years, the number of skin cancer patients has quadrupled,” says van Poppelen. “Most people have the basal cell carsinoma, which is still treatable. But in 2020, almost a thousand people will have died from a more malignant form.”
detected
Inke de Gruyter, 42, was recently diagnosed with skin cancer. “I had a number of spots on the skin and they started to itch after a while. I was then referred to a dermatologist by my GP. She determined that it is a form of skin cancer.” De Gruyter was shocked after the news. especially because she is still relatively young and has always applied sunscreen. “In the past, it was mainly older people who got skin cancer. But we now see the largest increase in the group 30 to 60 years”, according to the dermatologist.
Tips
When you enter the hospital, there are pumps with free sunscreen. According to van Poppelen, rubbing with a high factor is necessary. “But not only when you lie down on the beach. Also when you go cycling, for example.” Especially at a young age it is already good to rub in. According to the hospital, it is not important which brand you use. “Make sure you apply it often and well,” says Poppelen.
baking in the sun
In addition, the hospital is trying to make it clear that it is better not to lie in the sun all day. “There is still a big challenge. Many people go on holiday to a warm country and bake in the sun for seven days. We can’t just get that out of the system. But it is best to avoid the hottest moments of the day.” , said Van Poppelen.