RICHLAND, Wash. – The Skin Cancer Foundation is offering free full-body skin cancer screenings through its ‘Destination Healthy Skin Program.’
A 38-foot RV equipped with two private exam rooms is traveling across the country and is stopping to offer these screenings outside the Richland Community Center on Oct. 3 & 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check-ups are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Karen Elliott happened to walk by and took advantage of the opportunity for a check-up.
“I usually get checked every year, but over this summer, I had a little spot and I thought, oh, I’ll just have a look at it,” Elliott said.
The RV is part of a nationwide effort to offer skin cancer prevention and early detection screenings. Dr. Sidney Smith, a Board Certified Dermatologist and volunteer with the program, emphasized the importance of self-checks for skin cancer.
“Well, in the general population, skin cancer is prevalent. You’ll see one in every five people. Now once you get beyond the age of 60, 65, 70, it’s one in every two people,” Dr. Smith said. “So it’s very important to get screened. And the recommendation from the American Academy of Dermatology is that everyone gets screened at least once a year.”
After each check-up, participants receive a goodie bag containing educational materials, sun protection samples and expert recommendations for treatments. Dr. Smith highlighted the life-saving potential of early detection.
“The difference of getting checked early is huge. If we can catch your skin cancers small, that means we have a great chance of preventing other problems from metastasizing or having other issues,” Dr. Smith said. “Unfortunately, skin cancer is deadly and if we can catch it early, we can prevent that.”
