Free skin cancer screenings planned at cancer center

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Free skin cancer screenings will be offered at the Don and Dana Myers Cancer Center, 200 S. Pine St., Seymour.

They will be from 1 to 3 p.m. April 15 and from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 14.

The screenings are intended for individuals who are not currently being seen by a dermatologist. You must have a scheduled appointment to participate, and time slots are limited.

More than half of all new cancers are skin cancers, and more than a million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, according to a news release from Schneck Medical Center. In fact, 40 to 50 percent of Americans living to the age of 65 will develop skin cancer at least once in their lifetime.

Kristin Hines, director of cancer and palliative care services at Schneck, said the key to the successful treatment of most types of skin cancer is early detection. Skin cancer is cured in 85 to 95 percent of all cases; however, if detected early enough, the cure rate could be near 100 percent, she said.

"This is especially critical in the most deadly type of skin cancer, melanoma," Hines said. "Early detection of melanoma can literally be the difference between life and death. It is essential patients perform regular self-skin checks and have routine exams by their dermatologist or primary care physician."

Schneck invites the public to take advantage of these free screenings, which are not intended for diagnosis of rashes or other skin problems and should not be a replacement or substitution for regular visits to a physician.

To schedule a screening, call 812-522-0477 and leave your name and phone number, and your call will be returned.

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