Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the UK and rates continue to rise. At least 168,000 new cases are diagnosed in the UK each year and 3,700 people are killed – that’s 10 people every day.
Launched in June 2020 as one of a number of new benefits to help Medicash’s corporate policyholders during the pandemic, SkinVision uses AI technology to track the appearance of moles on the body over time. Users simply take a photo of a skin spot or mole on their smartphone and receive a risk indication within 30 seconds.
The incidence of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has risen faster than any other common cancer in the UK. Over the last decade, the number of people diagnosed with melanoma has increased by almost half.
Fortunately, you don’t need x-rays or blood tests to find skin cancer early. With the help of the SkinVision app – all you need is your smartphone. When caught and treated early, skin cancers are highly curable. Unlike other cancers, individuals can spot the development of skin abnormalities as soon as they appear.
Paul Gambon, Sales & Marketing Director at Medicash said:
“It can be a frightening experience to see the signs of skin cancer on yourself, but the ability to analyse these symptoms early with a simple scan on the SkinVision app means you can quickly get peace of mind.
Over the Summer, we want to draw everyone’s attention to the growth of this disease and the number of missed diagnoses caused by the pandemic.
There was a 68% drop in the number of skin cancer diagnoses from March – June 2020 as individuals were put off from consulting with a GP over symptoms they would have checked prior to lockdown.”
In a bid to address this issue and increase the number of users regularly checking their skin, Medicash are donating £1 for every ‘first’ scan submitted by one of their policyholders through the SkinVision app between now and 31 August 2021.
The app can set reminders for skin-self exams and provide recommendations on the next steps to take, including whether to visit a healthcare professional. Regular skin self-exams are especially important for people who are at higher risk of skin cancer, such as people with reduced immunity, people who have had skin cancer before, and people with a strong family history of skin cancer.
Quote from Dianne Cannon, Corporate Partnerships Director at Melanoma UK said:
“The lockdowns that have been necessary during the Covid crisis, coupled with the additional strain on healthcare systems, have led to a worrying proportion of professional skin checks being missed.
In our fight against skin cancer, early detection is critical. By embracing the use of technology through our partnership with SkinVision, we can encourage everybody to make a skin self-examination part of their regular routine.
With the additional help of Medicash in promoting this life saving app we can ensure more symptoms are spotted before it is too late. The donations will also help us to continue supporting our patients throughout their diagnosis and treatment.
SkinVision can be easily accessed via the main My Medicash app from which users can submit claims, review their policy and access all of their other ancillary benefits.
Watch our webinar with SkinVision: Spotlight on Skin Cancer – Facts, Figures and Prevention:
Sources:
https://find.cancerresearchuk.org/?xss-q=skin+cancer+statistics