SunSmarts Campaign Comes to Narragansett on Friday

Beachgoers on Friday in Narragansett will get a chance to get a free skin cancer screening.

Officials from the state Department of Health, the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island and other officials have teamed up with Sen. Jack Reed’s office to promote the 2015 SunSmarts campaign.

The goal is to offer free screenings to help identify skin cancer cases during the early stages when the disease is most treatable.

At the same time, the campaign will educate people about effective sun protection.

The screenings will be offered at Roger Wheeler Beach at around noon.

Conducted in a private setting by board certified dermatologists and dermatology residents affiliated with University Dermatology, the free skin cancer screenings include a visual inspection of a patient’s skin by a medical professional with no blood work required. A typical screening takes about 15 minutes and officials hope to screen about 500 beach goers.

The SunSmarts public health campaign is made possible by The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, a broad based coalition of partners who have come together to provide input on the planning and implementation of programs and services around comprehensive cancer control. Other community partners in this effort include ABC 6, the Rhode Island Department of Health, University Dermatology Inc., Lifespan Community Health, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, the American Cancer Society, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the City of Newport, and Walgreens.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 3.5 million skin cancers in over 2 million people diagnosed annually. Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon, and it is estimated over 76,000 new cases of invasive melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year.

Dermatologists note there are several precautions to help reduce sun damage, including:

• Seeking shade instead of direct sunlight, especially during the peak hours of UV radiation (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

• Properly applying sunscreen before sun exposure and reapplying throughout the day.

• Wearing hats, sunglasses, and covering up with clothing.

Rhode Islanders interested in receiving a free screening and consultation are asked to wear their bathing suits and stop by any of the screening events scheduled this summer. Those who require a follow-up will be referred for dermatology consultations.