“NEUCA dla Zdrowia” Foundation’s Dermal Care Bus sets off across Poland to check the nevi of Poles free of charge
The “NEUCA dla Zdrowia” Foundation’s Dermal Care Bus will have visited 40 towns and cities across the country by the end of the summer break. Anyone willing will be eligible for a free examination of nevi for melanoma and other skin cancers. At the same time, they will get a chance to check their blood sugar levels. The “NEUCA dla Zdrowia” was joined in the campaign by TU Zdrowie, which also encourages its customers to prevent skin cancer.
Malignant skin neoplasms are among the most numerous group of malignant oncological diseases. The most commonly diagnosed are basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and the well-known melanomas. Regardless of the type, their growth is strongly influenced by environmental factors, primarily exposure of the skin to sunlight.
At the “NEUCA dla Zdrowia” Foundation’s Dermal Care Bus, qualified medical personnel on site will evaluate all patients’ pigmented nevi, commonly known as moles.
“The dermatoscope used during the examination allows us to see not only the surface of the skin, but also its deeper structures. Thanks to this, the specialist is able to determine whether the lesion is evolving into a life-threatening melanoma. After the appointment, the patient will receive the result of the examination along with an image of the suspicious nevus and further recommendations,” says Boguslawa Golus- Jankowska, President of the “NEUCA dla Zdrowia” Foundation.
What does the dermatoscope examination consist of?
A dermatoscope is an instrument with a light and magnifying glass that is applied to the skin and lets the doctor take a close look at skin lesions. The doctor is able to assess whether the lesion warrants excision and histopathological examination or just further observation on the patient’s own. The examination is completely non-invasive and allows for determining the following parameters:
A - asymmetry - melanomas, unlike pigmented lesions, display an irregular appearance,
B - borders - the edges of the lesion are uneven and jagged,
C - color - the color of melanoma varies from light brown to black, unevenly distributed, often with a pinpoint concentration of pigment,
D - diameter of the lesion > 5 mm,
E - protrusion - protrusion of the lesion above the surrounding epidermis.
Measurement of blood sugar level
In addition, in the Dermal Care Bus, patients will be offered a chance to measure their blood sugar levels on their own. The correctness of the measurement will be supervised by staff providing instruction and safe conditions for doing so.
“Diabetes is a global phenomenon, currently being close to pandemic proportions. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 1 in 10 adults worldwide are living with diabetes. In Europe, 36% of people with diabetes are undiagnosed, and the statistics are equally alarming in Poland. A report on diabetes published by the National Health Fund (NHF) reports a 14% increase in the incidence among adult Poles between 2013 and 2018. In Poland, it was reported that 9.1% of the population suffers from diabetes and this percentage is likely to be increasing continuously,” says Bogusława Golus-Jankowska, President of the “NEUCA dla Zdrowia” Foundation.
Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are also a threat; the latter significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (3-6 times) and cardiovascular events and death regardless of cause (about 2 times). For this reason, the “NEUCA dla Zdrowia” Foundation has launched blood glucose screening.
How to register for the examination?
Participation in the examination is free of charge, but advance sign-ups are required. You can sign up before the scheduled examination at the same address where the examination will take place. The campaign is active from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All details on testing dates, location and registration can be found on the “NEUCA dla Zdrowia” Foundation website in the News section.
TU Zdrowie has joined the campaign to promote the “NEUCA dla Zdrowia” Foundation’s preventive screenings. All insureds will be informed about how to access the Dermal Care Bus. In addition, TU Zdrowie is supporting the campaign through media and social networks.
