Washington Health’s Free Skin Cancer Screening ‘SPOT’ On

Washington Health, in collaboration with the Center for Dermatology in Fremont, will offer complimentary skin cancer screenings, May 3, from 10 a.m. to noon.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and as a service to the community, Washington Health will once again be sponsoring the SPOT Skin Cancer Screening Program.

The screening will be held at the Center for Dermatology at 2557 Mowry Ave., Suite 25, Fremont, coordinated by Sunil Dhawan, MD, certified by the American Boards of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, and adjunct clinical assistant professor at Stanford Medicine -- Stanford University.

The public is invited to make an appointment for the full body screening by calling 510.818.7009. All are welcome, whether they’ve seen a dermatologist in the past or have never been screened. Screenings will take place in private exam rooms, taking approximately 10 minutes. People may request a chaperone if that makes them more comfortable.

Dr. Dhawan, who has been in practice for almost 35 years, is passionate about skin cancer screening, generously volunteering his time with four health care providers from the center. “With early detection, many skin cancers are easily treated,” he says.

A Valuable Community Service

He praises Washington Health for recognizing the importance of screening, and for collaborating with the Center for Dermatology in offering this community service.

Dr. Dhawan observes: “Many times people don’t realize they have a suspicious spot, while others might be curious about a spot that turns out to be nothing.” People should have a screening at least once a year, and up to four times a year if they’ve had melanoma in the past, he notes.

There are three types of skin cancer:

• Basal cell: The most common; grows slowly and unlikely to spread to other parts of the body.
• Squamous cell: Also common and slow growing
• Melanoma: The most serious form of skin cancer; characterized by uncontrolled growth.

It’s estimated that there’ll be 40,000 new cases of melanoma this year, and between 5 and 10 million instances of basal and squamous cell.

Don’t Delay Your Screening

People often put off a screening, believes Dr. Dhawan, in most cases, because they’re busy and don’t make the time. “Some people think having a screening isn’t important, or don’t consider skin cancer to be dangerous. They tend to ignore their skin, especially men. Women are generally better about it,” says. Children don’t need to be evaluated before the age of 18.

People should have their back or hard-to-see areas examined, at the very least, even if they do their own self-examinations, Dr. Dhawan stresses. Fair-skinned people should do a self-exam at least every six months, and more often if they’ve had skin cancer removed in the past. They should check for anything that looks abnormal, especially moles or lesions that change in size, color, and shape. Spots that have symptoms, including itching, burning, and bleeding, should be immediately addressed. “With greater awareness and early detection, instances of skin cancer are declining,” he says.

In addition to getting screened, Dr. Dhawan recommends wearing a mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50, preferably containing titanium oxide and zinc. Mineral sunscreens work differently than the older chemical sunscreens, which aren’t preferable, according to Dr. Dhawan. Mineral sunscreens are a thicker layer of cream that physically blocks the sun. They’re broad-spectrum, last a long time, and are better for sensitive skin. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays in a chemical reaction before entering the skin.

He also recommends not relying solely on makeups that contain SPF, because they are most likely chemical- and not mineral-based. “It’s better than no SPF, but makeup isn’t made with titanium oxide and zinc.”

If people want more information, he recommends the center’s website, centerforderm.com, which offers handouts under the Patient tab; the American Academy of Dermatology; and the Skin Cancer Foundation.

He encourages the public not to hesitate in taking advantage of this free screening. “This is an important community service. Come in to see us. We make it very easy.”

Appointments are required. Community members can register for this May 3 screening by calling 510.818.7009.