NARH and REACH offer free skin cancer screening clinics
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Reservations are required for the screening. Residents interested in scheduling a screening, or for more information, should call REACH at (413) 664-5326. The clinic does not provide a complete body check, but instead is intended to check worrisome lesions.
The incidence of skin cancer has increased in recent years, with about 800,000 cases of skin cancer occurring in this country each year. The incidence of malignant melanoma, the potentially lethal form of skin cancer, has increased significantly since 1980. Statistics from the American Cancer Society show the incidence of malignant melanoma is rising faster than that of any other cancer, and that malignant melanoma is one of the most prevalent cancers in the United States with about 60,000 new cases and more than 8,000 deaths expected in 2007. In addition, there has been a dramatic increase in lifetime risk of developing malignant melanoma.
Skin cancer risk can be decreased by minimizing exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. -- the so-called 'red zone' -- when the sun's rays are most intense.
Recommendations include wearing a hat that protects the scalp and face, clothing that protects the trunk and shoulders, and sunglasses with UV protection. Sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or greater should be applied to all exposed areas prior to significant exposure to the sun.
