Skin Cancer Screenings

The Beginning

        About 25 years ago, Soderstrom Dermatology Center, S.C. began free Skin Cancer Screening Clinics to help the people of Central Illinois.  It was at a time when the skin cancer epidemic was first being noticed, and an extended strike had laid off thousands of people.  With reduced medical benefits, patients were not coming in to have worrisome spots checked and caners were not detected early enough.  The Skin Cancer Clinics began as a humanitarian effort for the citizens of Central Illinois and have continued to grow locally, as well as nationally, ever since.

        One of the nurses who worked for us at the time coined the phrase “Skin Scan” for the scanning of the body looking for changing and atypical moles.  Since that time, Soderstrom Dermatology Center, S.C. has sponsored free Skin Cancers Screening Clinics that have served over 25,000 patients.  In 1999, the Peoria Mayor was the 15,000^th patient to have his skin checked for atypical spots and changing moles.

Still Going Strong Today

        This year Soderstrom Dermatology Center, S.C. will sponsor three Skin Cancer Screenings in our Peoria office at no extra charge to the public.  These are fun days, without any forms, dictations, letter writing, phone calls or any of the other hustle/bustle of a busy practice day.  These are days devoted completely to our patients.  There is free coffee and doughnuts, free advice and lectures and a free examination of worrisome or changing spots or skin diseases that people may have.  In addition, this year we will sponsor two Skin Cancer Screening Clinics in Peru, two in Galesburg, and two in Morton.  Many precancerous skin spots are found on patients during these visits.  Sun or actinic damage causes early changes in the skin that can forewarn the development of skin cancers. 

Forms of Skin Cancer

        Basal cell carcinomas are the most common form of skin cancer and are frequently seen on sun exposed areas of the skin, particularly the face.  They are, in most instances, completely curable.

        Squamous cell carcinomas are frequently seen developing from precancerous spots on the skin.  These are treatment and, in many cases, preventable.  Once found, however, they must be removed surgically and do have a small, but serious, change of recurrence. 

         Malignant melanomas are the most serious form of skin cancers.  These are usually dark, black, changing, and growing moles with irregular borders and relentless growth patters.  Sometimes they are seen in previously existing moles.  Some are seen in families and have a genetic basis

, as well as an environmental basis, being aggravated by sunlight.  Malignant melanomas are one of the main reasons for our free skin cancer screening efforts.  The best treatment for malignant melanomas is early detection and early complete surgical removal.  There are new methods of vaccination that look promising towards treating patients who have had malignant melanomas that have spread.  No treatment, however, is better than early detection and early surgical removal.  That is why we sponsor the free Skin Cancer Screening Clinics.

        In addition, it can’t be said strongly enough that prevents of skin cancer starts with avoidance of the hot midday sun (from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), wearing protective clothing (like long sleeved lightweight shirts and blouses, wide-brimmed hats and cover-ups on the beach), as well as using sunscreens and sunblocks liberally and frequently.  Prevention is always worth more than the treatment.

If you can spot it, you can stop it!

© Soderstrom Dermatology Center, S.C. 2006, All Rights Reserved