Free Skin Cancer Screening at Peninsula Regional Medical Center on November 19

Free skin cancer screenings will be held at the Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute at Peninsula Regional Medical Center on Thursday, November 19, 2015 from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, call 410-543-7006.

“The key to successful treatment of most types of skin cancer is early detection and treatment,” said Thomas M. DeMarco, MD, Medical Director of the Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute. Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime and those rates are higher on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Skin self-examinations consist of periodically looking over your body for any changes in color, shape or texture of a mole, the development of a new mole or any other unusual changes in the skin. Any of these signs should be reported to a dermatologist right away. A survey commissioned by the Academy showed that less than one-third of Americans currently examine their skin for signs of melanoma and more than half don’t know the signs of melanoma. Dermatologists want to change this because when treated in its earliest stages, melanoma can be cured. If not treated early, the disease can quickly spread to other parts of the body and be fatal.

“Screening is the first step in the process to stop the skin cancer in its tracks. We want to educate the community that examining your skin on a regular basis can be a life-saving habit,” said dermatologist Luette Semmes, MD with Peninsula Dermatology Associates, PA.

The free screenings will be held on the second floor of the Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute at PRMC. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 410-543-7006.