Free Skin Cancer Screening Offered at Henderson Dermatology

A free skin cancer screening will be held from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 5, 2007 at Henderson Dermatology located in the Atkinson Medical Building, 1413 North Elm Street, Suite 202. Individuals must call 1-888-337-6722 extension 4788 to schedule an appointment. Individuals will be seen by appointment only.

Dr. Trey Truett, Board Certified Dermatologist with Henderson Dermatology, said, “Last year’s end of the summer screen was so successful, we decided to host another fall screen. Sun exposure causes skin damage, and the effects of it can easily be seen at this time of year. The timing also provides a great opportunity to educate participants about the importance of year-round sunscreen protection.”

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, affecting 1 in 5 Americans, and more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Of these cases, more than 105,750 are melanoma which claims 7,770 lives each year. A 2007 survey from the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) found that while four out of five survey respondents (80%) are concerned about skin cancer and feel it is important to protect themselves, more than half (54%) have never been screened for skin cancer by a health care provider and nearly one-quarter (23%) never examine their own skin for changes to moles and other blemishes.

These results have served as a call to action for dermatologists to teach their neighbors to Be Sun Smart and provide free skin cancer screenings in their communities. Academy members continue to offer free, skin cancer screenings year-round to the general public. Since 1985, dermatologists have screened more than 1.7 million people and detected more than 171,200 suspicious lesions, including approximately 20,000 suspected melanomas.

Dr. Truett said, “If there are any changes in the size, color, shape or texture of a mole, the development of a new mole, or any other unusual changes in the skin, you should see a dermatologist.”

According to the Academy everyone – young, old, fair-skinned, dark-skinned – needs to be careful before spending time in the sun. The Academy encourages people to conduct regular skin self-examinations, use sunscreen, wear protective clothing, avoid peak sun hours, and practice other sun-safe behaviors. Skin self-examinations consist of regularly looking over the entire body, including the back, scalp, soles of feet, between the toes, and on the palms of the hands.

“The key to the successful treatment of most types of skin cancer is early detection and treatment,” Dr. Truett added. “With melanoma, early detection is achievable because the signs are visible on the surface of the skin. It is our hope for those individuals who have never had their skin checked, that they will use this opportunity to have one of our specialists look for possible, suspicious lesions.”

At the screen participants will receive information about how to conduct a self examination and other educational materials. To make an appointment for the free skin cancer screening on Friday, October 5, call Henderson Dermatology at 1-888-337-6722 extension 4788.

Be Sun Smart

Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone “Be Sun Smart.” Here’s how to do it:
• Generously apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating;
• Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, when possible;
• Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.;
• Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun;
• Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds causes skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless, self-tanning product, but use sunscreen with it.

To gauge their sun smarts, the public can visit the Academy’s Web site to take the survey. Upon completion of the survey, respondents will receive their own personalized sun-smart profile with lifestyle tips.