The Regina Maria health network announced on Thursday the opening of the Tertiary Melanoma Center within the Euroclinic Hospital in Bucharest.
According to representatives of the medical network, the new center is intended for patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of melanoma and aims to provide an integrated medical pathway, from initial evaluation and diagnosis to treatment and long-term monitoring.
The center is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Olga Simionescu and brings together specialists from several medical fields involved in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma.
Assessment and treatment in one place
According to the information provided by Queen Maria, each case will be analyzed by a multidisciplinary team (Tumour Board), made up of dermatologists, oncologists, surgeons, anatomopathologists, specialists in nuclear medicine and plastic surgery.
The representatives of the center claim that this model allows for the faster establishment of a treatment plan and the coordination of the necessary investigations.
A patient navigator will also work within the center, responsible for scheduling consultations and investigations, as well as coordinating the patient’s medical route.
According to the coordinators of the project, its role is to reduce the waiting time between suspicion of illness, diagnosis and the start of treatment.
Melanoma facts
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing skin pigment. The disease has a high risk of spreading in the body if it is not detected and treated in time.
According to the data cited by Queen Maria, approximately 2,250 new cases of skin melanoma are diagnosed annually in Romania, and over 540 people die each year due to this condition.
Worldwide, the number of cases is increasing, with estimates indicating that by 2040 there could be approximately 510,000 new cases annually.
Doctors emphasize that early detection and rapid intervention remain the essential factors for increasing patients’ chances of survival.
