“A scab, a wound that does not heal, consult your dermatologist or your GP”

As you probably know, the data was released on Friday, about 5,000 cases of cancer have not been diagnosed since March, according to the Cancer Foundation. In question, of course, the Coronavirus pandemic and the reorganization of health services after the first wave.

And while 400 cases of melanoma are included in this count, it doesn’t take into account other skin cancers that are considered less severe, because there is less risk of dying for them.

However, these non-melanomas alone account for 4,830 undiagnosed cases from March 1 to September 18. With melanoma, this therefore represents 5,230 cases! Which is more than all the cancers put together that the Foundation against Cancer reports.

How to explain this large number of skin cancers?

First, simply because “skin cancer is the most common cancer that exists”, recalls Professor Dominique Tennstedt, a dermatologist.

But that’s not the only reason. I have to say it “Skin cancer doesn’t hurt, like many cancers, but especially this one, except in very advanced stages. And so, people see a scab that doesn’t heal, it’s there, coming back, pulling out and getting come back. And they are not necessarily careful, especially given the fact that the consultations (with the first wave of imprisonment, ed) have been extremely slow anyway. They let things go. “.

And add: “I remind you that for melanomas, which are much darker spots, which generally do not form scabs, but which are indisputably growing, this can be catastrophic because this cancer metastasizes, that is to say it goes elsewhere very quickly, while the cell basal does not metastasize “.

A telephone consultation does not replace a real consultation

“Telephone consultations are very difficult when it comes to the skin as we cannot see the lesions”, says Dr. Tennstedt. “Sure, some have sent photos or something like that, but if it is true that from time to time it can attract our attention, nothing can replace a physical consultation”.

Not consulting for fear of contracting the Coronavirus is therefore a terrible mistake, according to him. All the more so since today important precautionary measures are taken, including barrier gestures, to avoid contamination.

And when we tell him about 5,000 of these, he says he does “bad, because I tell myself that this is a side effect of the coronavirus and the way we have been managed. This is my personal opinion. It hurts me to know that there are people, and I personally know some who have not been diagnosed and who are now in catastrophic, if not worse, states “.

His message today: “If you have a scab, a sore that doesn’t heal and keeps coming back, see your dermatologist or your doctor; If you have a dark spot that’s growing and wasn’t there before, see your dermatologist or doctor. Treatment.”.