Skin cancer prevention.

Skin cancer is for a large extend a preventable disease. In the first place by reduction of risk exposure and secondly by early detection followed by appropriate treatment of this disease. It is therefore that the Committee of High Level European Cancer Experts made already in 1988 a specific recommendation in the European Code against Cancer on the prevention of skin cancer i.e. to avoid excessive exposure of sunlight. This European Code against Cancer is made up of 10 specific recommendations to prevent cancer and is the basis of the European Commission action programme “Europe against Cancer”. Each year, one out of the ten recommendations is highlighted by a large European information campaign directed to the general public and medical professionals. In 1996, the focus of this media campaign is UV-radiation and skin cancer.