Springtime sun should remind us to get screened for skin cancer
May 23, 2023
Roper St. Francis Healthcare will host free skin cancer screenings Wednesday at Greer Transition Clinic
Roper St. Francis Healthcare will host a free skin cancer screening event on Wednesday, May 24 at the Greer Transitions Clinic in North Charleston.
To schedule an appointment, call 843-402-CARE or visit rsfh.com/calendar.
“Generally, when someone has had significant sun exposure as a child, they should start getting screened as early as right after high school,” says Surgical Oncologist Dr. Daniel Kirchoff. “And then that becomes more important the older you get.”
Dr. Kirchoff also advised screenings for anyone with family members who have had skin cancer, as well as those with fair skin and moles. “It’s very important you see a dermatologist at least for an initial baseline screening for skin surveillance,” Dr. Kirchoff says.
About 600,000 people die from cancer each year. Many cancers can be detected early, and this can be done through routine screening. Almost every type of cancer has a recommended screening test.
If you are 18 and over, have not been screened for skin cancer in the past year and not currently under a dermatologist’s care, you are encouraged to schedule a screening.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following sun safety measures:
- Stay in the shade.
- Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
- Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
