Published on August 17, 2010

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour Provides Free Skin Cancer Screenings

Skin cancer can often be cured when caught early. That is why people should get a regular skin cancer screening.

There will be a free skin cancer screening on Monday, September 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rite Aid, 981 Medford Center, next to Safeway. It’s part of The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour , sponsored by AVEENO and Rite Aid with support from Columbia Sportswear, DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.®, Solar Gard® Window Film, and Fitness magazine. Asante Health System and Ventana Wellness are local sponsors of the event.

People will get a free, full-body skin cancer screening conducted by Jennifer Childers, MD, PhD, a board certified dermatologist of Ventana Wellness. The private exams will be in a 38-foot customized RV. Screenings are on a first come, first serve basis, so be there early. For more information, please visit http://www.skincancer.org/tour .

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million cases are diagnosed each year across the country. Southern Oregon is a hot spot for skin cancer because of the sunny summer weather and outdoor living.

“Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., but it is mostly preventable and almost always curable if caught early,” says Dr. Childers, “Therefore, yearly skin checks are critical.”

Dr. Childers will be screening for the following skin conditions:

Actinic keratosis (AK): It affects over 10 million Americans. AK is the most common type of precancerous skin lesion. Left untreated, it can lead to a cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): It is the most common form of skin cancer, affecting approximately two million Americans annually. Basal cell carcinomas are easily treated in their early stages. However, if ignored they can damage surrounding tissue, sometimes causing considerable destruction and disfigurement

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): It is the second most common form of skin cancer, affecting more than 250,000 Americans each year and claiming 2,500 lives. It is most common in areas frequently exposed to the sun, such as the rim of the ear, lower lip, face, bald scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. With nearly 70,000 cases and more than 8,000 deaths this year in the United States, melanoma is a serious problem. But, when diagnosed and removed early, melanoma is usually curable.

The Road to Healthy Skin Tour runs through the fall. The tour is expected to screen thousands of people and will visit more than 50 cities. The screenings take place in one of two private rooms and are quick, easy and can be life-saving. The tour will provide printed informational materials and sunscreen samples to help protect skin.