C.M.W..MaóAlmost 800 of the 3,000 new cases of cancer detected each year in the Balearic Islands are skin cancer, representing over 25% of the total, a figure which places the islands at the head of a world list of places with the highest levels of skin cancer according to the A.E.C.C. (the Spanish Association against Cancer). The association states that the principal causes are continued exposure to the sun, smoking, a high consumption of alcohol and a poor diet.
The statistics were presented last week by Teresa Martorell, head of the A.E.C.C.´s Balearic branch, following the signing of an agreement of collaboration under which the Balearic Government will provide 100,000 euros to subsidise the association´s activities in 2007. This sum represents 50% of the total amount spent by the A.E.C.C. in the Balearic Islands on information and preventative measures.
The government representatives at the signing emphasised the important role played by the association which conducts various campaigns and fund-raising events during the year, as well as training its own professional and voluntary workers.
Teresa Martorell underlined the importance of the A.E.C.C.´s task in providing citizens with clear, accessible and accurate information on the disease, adding that each month the association receives 976 calls on the free phone number it provides and around 140,000 visits to its website.
She explained that one of the association´s aims was to achieve an improvement in the quality of life and health of society, particularly in cases of skin and breast cancer, and welcomed the government´s financial contribution to this end.
