Pilipović: Serbia Among the Top in Europe for Mortality from Malignant Skin Tumors

The President of the Serbian Patients’ Association, Savo Pilipović, stated today that in our country, 700 people are diagnosed with melanoma annually, and about 300 die from it. He added that Serbia ranks among the top in Europe when it comes to mortality from malignant skin tumors, and that the healthcare system bears the greatest responsibility for this.

Melanoma most often manifests on the skin and begins in the cells that give pigmentation to the skin and from which moles develop. According to experts, it is the deadliest skin tumor because it can spread to lymph nodes and other organs, and is associated with excessive exposure to UV rays, writes the daily newspaper Danas.

„In terms of incidence, we are not that bad, but in terms of mortality, we are first. There are multiple reasons for this: a poor healthcare system, people are still afraid of doctors, we have been taught that the sun is healthy and that tanning beds are preparation for the seaside, and these are follies that are costing us our lives. Even when patients want to see a doctor, it is not easy to get to a dermatologist, especially a good dermatologist,“ Pilipović said.

He told the daily newspaper Danas that awareness of prevention of this disease is at a low level and that it is increasingly appearing among young people.

„Melanoma used to be a disease of older people, but unfortunately, that is no longer the case. People of various ages are coming in, but what is common is that most of these skin changes are detected at a late stage for melanoma, when it has already spread through the lymphatic system and when treatment is much more difficult,“ the interviewee noted.

Pilipović points out that risk groups include those who have already had someone in the family with melanoma, people with fair skin, those who have a large number of moles on their skin, and those who use tanning beds.