Beach-side skin cancer screenings and public awareness campaign in Portugal
The Portuguese League Against Cancer's week-and-a-half long campaign on Portuguese beaches is in full swing, with the focus on skin cancer prevention. The campaign will conclude next weekend at Peniche beach, in the district of Leiria.
The initiative offers free screenings to the public, aiming to detect any potential signs of skin cancer early. Skin cancer is a disease diagnosed in thousands of Portuguese people each year, making prevention and early detection crucial.
The campaign has already visited the beaches of the Algarve, Alentejo, and Greater Lisbon, with Sesimbra, a district in Setúbal, being the latest stop on Saturday morning. The campaign in Sesimbra is part of a broader effort to raise awareness about skin cancer prevention.
Doctors advise the public to be aware of any signs that may appear on the skin. The key signs of skin cancer, as highlighted in the Portuguese League Against Cancer's beach awareness campaign, focus on early detection, sun protection, and skin cancer prevention at beach environments.
The general recommended key signs to watch for in skin cancer awareness campaigns (including beach and UV exposure contexts) typically include:
- New or changing moles or spots on the skin
- Asymmetry in shape (one half unlike the other)
- Irregular or blurred borders
- Variations in color (different shades of brown, black, red, white or blue)
- Diameter larger than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)
- Evolution or change over time (size, shape, color, or symptoms like itching or bleeding)
These signs are consistent with the ABCDE criteria for melanoma detection used worldwide, which skin cancer awareness campaigns stress for early identification.
The campaign also emphasizes the importance of protecting skin from solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation—a major risk factor for all skin cancers—as recommended by international health authorities. The Portuguese League Against Cancer’s campaign at beaches encourages the use of sunscreen and protective clothing, avoiding peak sun intensity times, seeking shade, using sunglasses, and hats.
Given the campaign's beach setting and context of skin cancer awareness seen in related initiatives, these prevention and early detection messages form the core of the campaign’s key signs and advice to the public.
So, whether you're enjoying the sun, sea, and sand at Peniche next weekend or any other Portuguese beach, remember to stay sun-safe and be aware of any changes in your skin. The Portuguese League Against Cancer's campaign is here to help you do just that.
