This Thursday, May 8, the commemorations of May 8, 1945 had a particular hue in Maussane-les-Alpilles. The blue white blue flags have mixed with the purple t-shirts from France Asso Cancer and skin. The Arlésian association which militates for better prevention of melanoma in French society settles in the village until May 11.
In the gallery space, a complete skin cancer screening kit is available to the inhabitants of Maussane and the Pays d’Arles. A pharmacist will be permanently on site to listen to patients, and redirect them if necessary to health professionals. This operation was designed to open access to melanoma screening to the inhabitants of the Alpilles where health professionals are regularly overloaded, and sometimes require whole months of waiting before obtaining an appointment.
Today there are 3.5 dermatologists per 100,000 inhabitants in France, while this cancer is the one that touches the most 18-30 year olds. “”During a conference 15 days ago, Montpellier hospital recorded skin cancer as the first cause of death of 20-40 year olds in its units“, Reveals Pascale Benaksas, president of France Asso Cancer and skin.
AI to help screening
80 % of skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolets, according to a study by the International Center for Research on Cancer. This is why the Arlesian calls for amplifying awareness: “A stain that appears on the body, or a grain of beauty that changes its appearance is the signals to watch!“
