Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Free skin cancer screenings offered in Springfield as experts stress prevention
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, but health experts say it is also one of the most preventable.
Springfield Memorial Hospital Community Cancer Education Coordinator Tia Rapps said one in five people will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime.
“It’s very frequent,” Rapps said. “And it’s preventable.”
Rapps said most skin cancer cases are linked to ultraviolet radiation exposure from the sun and tanning beds. She warned tanning beds expose people to intense UV rays that can speed up aging and increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma
“All are treatable if caught early,” Rapps said. “But melanoma is the deadliest. We know it can spread and ultimately can cause death.”
Rapps said prevention and early detection are critical. She recommends wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day and reapplying often, especially after swimming or sweating. Other sun safety measures include wearing sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats and sun-protective clothing, as well as seeking shade during peak sunlight hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“You should be using sunscreen every day,” Rapps said.
Rapps also encourages people to perform monthly skin checks and watch for any spots or moles that are new, changing, bleeding, itching or not healing properly.
“If anything is new, changing, bleeding, itching, or something that doesn’t heal, those are all things you should definitely talk to a healthcare provider about,” she said.
She said the ABCDE guidelines can help people identify warning signs of melanoma: asymmetry, border, color, diameter and evolving.
To help with early detection, the Regional Cancer Partnership is sponsoring free skin cancer screenings from 5 to 7 p.m. May 19 at the Simmons Cancer Institute.
Registration is required. Participants must be at least 18 years old and not currently under the care of a dermatologist. To register, call 217-545-7495.
“It’s important to prevent skin cancer,” Rapps said. “If you do notice something on your skin new or changing or different, make sure you’re having a conversation with a healthcare provider.”
