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Free skin cancer screenings to be offered at beach
Article published on Thursday, April 20, 2006 |
CLEARWATER BEACH - The most deadly form of skin cancer is on the rise. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there will be nearly 112,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in the United States this year - a 9 percent increase in new cases from 2005.
About 4,870 of those cases will be diagnosed in Florida.
On Melanoma Monday, May 1, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Pier 60 Pavilion on Clearwater Beach, a team of 20 physicians and nurse practitioners from Moffitt Morton Plant Mease Cancer Care will provide free skin cancer screenings to beachgoers.
The event is a partnership between the hospitals of Morton Plant Mease Health Care and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute.
This is the 10th year for the Moffitt Morton Plant Mease event that is part of a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness about skin cancer and encourage early detection through screening.
"Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that can easily spread to other areas of the body and can be fatal," Tim McMahon, director of cancer services, Morton Plant Mease Health Care, said in a press release. "The good news is if caught early, through the quick, noninvasive skin cancer screenings we will be providing free to the community on Melanoma Monday, this type of skin cancer and others, is almost always curable."
According to the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society:
• One American dies of melanoma nearly every hour
• One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime
• Five or more sunburns double your risk of skin cancer
• 80 percent of skin damage caused by the sun is done before age 18
• 66 percent of teenagers, despite knowing the dangers of the sun and tanning booths to their skin, still think people look better with a tan.
During last year's Melanoma Monday nearly 400 beachgoers were screened and more than 60 cases of possible skin cancer were detected. In addition to receiving a free skin exam from some of the Tampa Bay area's top cancer specialists, beachgoers will receive free sunscreen samples and sun safety information.
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Article published on Thursday, April 20, 2006
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