UCSF Sponsors Free Skin Cancer Screening on May 12
The UCSF Department of Dermatology will host free skin cancer screenings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, on the third floor of the UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1701 Divisadero St., San Francisco. May is designated as Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month® by the American Academy of Dermatology. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetimes, but through early detection, it can be highly curable. UCSF and community dermatologists will participate in the screening and will provide informational material on self-examination for skin cancer. The screening is open to anyone, free of charge, and there is no need to make an appointment. For more information about the screening, please call 415/353-7800. Facts About Skin Cancer Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed today and occurs more often than all other malignancies combined. More than one million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. About 80 percent of these new skin cancer cases will be basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 16 percent will be squamous cell carcinoma, and 4 percent will be melanoma.
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The incidence of skin cancer is rising dramatically in the United States. About 1.3 million cases were diagnosed in 2004, and more than 7,600 deaths from melanoma and 2,200 deaths from nonmelanoma skin cancers occurred. In fact, melanoma currently occurs in 1 out of every 65 people, and between 40 percent and 50 percent of people in the U.S. over age 65 will develop nonmelanoma skin cancer. This type of cancer is highly treatable when it is diagnosed in its early stages, and it is usually relatively easy to diagnose. Photo/Elisabeth Fall Related Links: Skin Cancer Guide
UCSF Department of Dermatology Detection: Self Skin Exam
UCSF Department of Dermatology Skin Cancer Screening Sets Guinness World Record
UCSF Today, May 9, 2006 Better Understanding of Melanoma and UV Risk by UCSF Cancer Experts Confirms Danger of Sun Exposure
UCSF Today, May 6, 2006