Brasilia, Dec 1 (IANS/EFE) Health authorities and the Brazilian Dermatology Society have launched a nationwide campaign to prevent skin cancer.
As many as 126 special posts have been set up around the country to perform examinations for skin disease, which represents close to 30 percent of all cancer cases diagnosed in the country every year.
"We're taking massive action not only to prevent but also to raise awareness about this most common type of cancer," Denise Steiner, president of the Brazilian Dermatology Society, said Saturday.
According to a study released this week by the health ministry, next year around 576,580 new cases of cancer could be diagnosed in Brazil.
The forecast was made on the basis of data showing the incidence of cancer in the country and indicate that, of the 576,580 new cases estimated for next year, 182,000 (31.5 percent of the total) will be those of skin cancer.
--IANS/EFE
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