MEDIA ADVISORY: UCSF Holds Free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic on Saturday
What: The UCSF Department of Dermatology is holding its annual free skin cancer screening clinic for the public. Insurance is not required and no appointment is necessary. Screenings will be performed to determine the possibility of skin cancer. Medical consultations will not be provided for other skin conditions such as rashes or abrasions.
UCSF hosts this annual community event to heighten awareness of the dangers of skin cancer and the importance of early detection and regular screening.
Media are invited to attend. For assistance on the day of the clinic, please contact Lily Wong, Community Relations Representative, at (415) 650-7443
When: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, May 12, 2018
Where: UCSF Department of Dermatology, 1701 Divisadero Street, 3rd floor, San Francisco
Why: Skin cancer is by far the most common form of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), with one in five Americans expected to develop the disease in their lifetime. Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are often found in areas of sun exposure such as the neck, face and arms, but they can develop elsewhere. While common, these cancers are highly treatable. Approximately 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed annually in about 3.3 million Americans, some of whom have multiple cancers, reports the ACS.
Melanoma skin cancer is less common but more likely to grow and spread, and the overall rates have been rising over the last three decades. The risk of melanoma increases with age, but for young adults, melanoma is one of the most common forms of cancer. Exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of melanoma. Approximately 91,270 new melanomas are expected to be diagnosed in 2018, says the ACS, and approximately 9,320 people are expected to die from the disease.
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