URMC Offers Free Skin Cancer Screenings May 11

The University of Rochester Medical Center has partnered with the Rochester Dermatologic Society and the American Academy of Dermatology to host a free cancer screening on Saturday, May 11 from 8 a.m.-noon. The screenings will be held in the Dermatology Suite at Strong Memorial Hospital, located on the second floor of the Ambulatory Care Facility.

Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined, according to the American Center Society, with an estimated 76,690 new cases of invasive melanoma, a skin cancer related to UV exposure, diagnosed in the U.S. in 2013.

“Sun damage is cumulative and includes exposures that can seem just a part of our daily lives such as walking the dog, mowing the lawn or a trip to the store,” said Marc Brown, M.D., professor of Dermatology and Oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s James P. Wilmot Cancer Center. “Making a skin cancer screening part of your annual routine will not only ensure that you are identifying a current issue, but also uncovering any risk factors for the future.”

Brown also recommends the following ways to protect your skin from the sun:

Each screening takes about five minutes. A written report of findings will be given to each participant. Information on skin cancer and skin cancer prevention will also be available. For more information about the free screening clinic, contact the Dermatology Department at (585) 275-3871.

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