The European Skin Cancer Foundation

Abstract

The incidence of skin cancer has been increasing in all European countries for many decades. Currently, skin cancer is the most frequent malignancy among Caucasians.1 The morbidity of skin cancer and the associated health burden is immense. Due to an increasingly older population and with a limited availability of dermatologists, more general practitioners will have to be involved in the care of skin cancer patients, especially those with non‐melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).2 NMSC, i.e. basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as actinic keratosis, a premalignant skin lesion, occur predominantly on sun exposed areas. Repetitive surgical procedures can cause morbidity for the patients and high costs for the health care system.3 With the rise of skin cancer incidence and diverse treatment algorithms in different countries in Europe, the European Skin Cancer Foundation (ESCF) was founded in 2008. The ESCF aims to promote skin cancer awareness and knowledge in different target groups. Health care officials and politicians as well as the general population will be addressed by education campaigns in order to enhance their knowledge with regard to skin cancer and the associated costs for the health care systems. Dermatologists and general practitioners will be trained on all aspects of skin cancer, including risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, enabling them, especially the general practitioners, to perform regular skin cancer screenings and treatment of skin cancer in early stages. For a short overview of the objectives and activities of the ESCF, see Table 1.